jonredmond - Posted - 10/29/2014:  09:10:59

I could not resist and picked this up on ebay last week.

I assume it is a Buckbee made banjo but i have not been able to find mention of a "Jewel trade mark Banjo" anywhere.

It has some very interesting H.C.Dobson like features such as the slotted peg head and fifth string tuners. carved dowel, six pointed stars and crosshatched heel plate. It also has an interesting pot with carved ridges on the inside and ridges on the tension hoop as well. Very good quality build and brass hardware, a real beautiful looking banjo with a nice old patina. unfortunately someone broke the peg head off and did a half assed fix but it looks like it will hold for the nylon strings i will install. 10 3/4 spunover pot. Mahogany neck with very nice condition ebony fretboard. A non original no knot tailpiece was on it. original bone knob geared tuners with some engraving.

Any input would be appreciated. I also need one shoe and four hooks and nuts to replace missing ones.

Thanks.

Edited by - jonredmond on 10/29/2014 09:27:20

Jewel/Buckbee?/Dobson	Jewel banjo slot head	Jewel banjo name plate	Jewel banjo pot and neck attachment
Jewel banjo pot and carved dowel	Jewel banjo 5th string slot tuning	Jewel banjo heel shape	Jewel banjo neck. Before

Leslie R - Posted - 10/29/2014:  10:39:28

Congrats, you are going to enjoy that. An incredible find.

jonredmond - Posted - 10/29/2014:  11:24:59

Leslie,
Your 6 string Buckbee looks real nice. i would like to see a photo of the fretboard or the whole banjo. Does yours have a slotted fifth string tuner? That nice tailpiece on yours is what mine probably had at one time. i would love to find another.
jon

trapdoor2 - Posted - 10/29/2014:  11:25:56

Definitely a "jewel", one way or another.

Somehow, these side-wheeler Dobson/Buckbee banjos attract me. I love the guitar tuners, esp. the 5th string. They typically have an extreme peghead angle and typical "Dobson" features (like the fancy dowelstick, interesting woodwork, etc.). I have threatened to build one on an orphan 12-1/2" Stewart pot I have. I think it would be a lot of fun.

Congrats on a great buy!

etparadox - Posted - 10/29/2014:  13:14:32

What a find! It to be it great condition aside from the sloppy neck fix. Chances are a good luthier could pop the joint back open and fix it up proper. At the very least the finish could be touched up in the chipped area. 

Edited by - etparadox on 10/29/2014 13:17:38

jonredmond - Posted - 10/29/2014:  14:26:36

The broken neck is a issue. I think the best thing to due is to leave it as is for now and play it for a time and make sure it is stable. it was glued back in place with a slight misalignment of the necks surface so that your hand can feel a bump as it slides up the neck. I am unsure if I want to sand or scrape the broken joint level. This would affect the original finish on the neck even more and i don't know if I want to do that. i like the old patina and finish of it's V shaped neck. leveling could also cause problems if it is ever reglued and repositioned in the future. i dont know what kind of glue was used so not sure if it can ever be taken apart successfully.

if any members have ever done a neck unglue and regluing let me know.