|
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/279757
ahmet - Posted - 02/15/2014: 08:02:20
Any help here with this banjo would be greatly appreciated. I believe its a early Thompson & Odell possibly or Luscomb. I would love to find photos of missing inlays to restore or more info. I think the missing 9th fret is an eagle style inlay that I have found a photo of online but the rest are not so obvious.
This is a 12" pot and 26.5" scale, which puts the bridge pretty far back...2.5" from the tension hoop and very close to the tailpiece. The photo attached has the bridge incorrectly placed for the scale length.
It is labeled "THE ISBELL ARTIST ST. LOUIS, MO." with an engraved plate on the dowel stick, as Luscombs. Research shows that Harry Isbell was a banjo maker and musician from St. Louis pre 1900. My question is then was this banjo entirely made by Thompson & Odell in Boston and custom inlaid and labeled possibly for Isbell? Or did he have some hand in the construction, particularly the rim since it is not a spun rim, as most Boston makers of that era.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks....Ahmet
 ISBELL BANJO |
