KingStudent - Posted - 07/20/2014:  06:54:39

Greetings 4-stringers,

I just got back from Guitar Center in Johnson City NY, where I acquired Bacon & Day Senorita #7571, for $375 -- along with what must be the world's most beat-up case, undoubtedly original.  According to this thread (thank you, gentlemen!), that dates it to 1959-1961.  That seems right to me.  It's in amazingly good shape, only missing one shoe/bracket for some reason, so I'll replace that.  Except that someone, probably the person who replaced the head (it's pretty new) put the dowel-stick-to-pot metal brace on backward, so it was sitting loose on the stick, and to compensate for that they jammed a wooden shim under it!  The effect was to make the action very high, but the neck is ruler-straight so I figured it was fixable.  Sure enough, once I put the brace on correctly it went back together perfectly, with 7/64" action, just what I like.  (The bridge is 9/16", which seems a bit odd, but it appears original, or at least old.)  I have it tuned to plectrum (CGBD) with 30/22/17/12 strings and it sounds fantastic -- the most fun-to-play 4-string I've had yet.  If they're this good in the 50's/60's, what must the old ones be like?  Someday I hope to find out.  Only thing is I might change to a clear head to show off the silver-painted inside, seen some pix of these done like that.  What are your thoughts on that?  And thanks again for the excellent information on these on BHO.

BD_front

BD_back

BD_peghead

NYCJazz - Posted - 07/20/2014:  08:41:19

Looks like you got a nicely set up banjo there!

I have several Bacons, all of them Groton made. Two tenors, both tuned plectrum. I use .28w .20w .15 .13 GHS steel strings

The only change that I would make is to put a Remo cloudy head on it. They sound great, plus the top surface isn't rough... pick noise can be an issue especially with a 9/16" bridge.

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 07/20/2014:  10:00:03

Congratulations - ??????

It seems, that you´ve won the lottery big price - with great looks/condition plus a not-too-bowed neck, it seems.

My personal advice for the best possible performance and playability:

- put on a smooth white (and heavy) LUDWIG (aka 5-Star or First Quality) head - tightened to an appr. Ab tap tone or a measure of 92-93 on a Drum Dial

- replace the lousy tailpiece with an ABM Tensionator TP - smakula.com/images/parts/Tensi...sTPC3.jpg - Bob Smakula sells a nickel plated 4-string version for 120 bucks smakula.com/nbp.html 

- use a light weight Grover 30 2-legged bridge elderly.com/accessories/names/...G3058.htm 

- and finally put on this balanced set of nickel wound D´Addario strings - 012-014-020W-30W.

Result IMO - a killer banjo!  Especially considering the final costs for it.

Polle

beezaboy - Posted - 07/20/2014:  11:25:18

FWIW I think 1964.  Just that I've been trying to date Gretsch/Bacon Senorita, etc banjos for a while and my first effort was out of whack with Polle's data.  My final answer was at the end of the thread.

Edited by - beezaboy on 07/20/2014 11:27:25

KingStudent - Posted - 07/20/2014:  12:33:34

Ah yes, 1964, I see -- should have read more carefully.  So exactly 50 years old!  Thanks very much, NYCJazz and Polle, for the setup advice -- I plan to take it all, or some combination thereof .  Interesting side note on the tailpiece: it's for six strings!  I guess for tailpieces sometimes they just stuck any old thing on there.  And I'm going to see if a local luggage repair co. can fix up the case -- might even be cheaper than getting a new one, and the fake alligator (?) is way cool.

BlowingRockNC - Posted - 07/20/2014:  13:02:51

I probably should bow in the presence of royalty, but I just wanted to say that you got one heck of a great deal on this banjo. It's really nice, as in really really nice. Heck, it would be nice even if it couldn't be played. I used to play a 4-string plectrum from 1919, but I sold it about a year ago because I just wasn't playing it enough to keep it, plus I'm really a 5-string OT'er at heart. Well, I just wanted to congratulate you on a great find.

KingStudent - Posted - 07/20/2014:  13:40:00

My teacher/mentor, who taught me 99% of what I know about music, was named Alvin King, hence the name.  But I can see where it would be misleading.