chuckt808 - Posted - 02/21/2015:  09:42:03

Can anyone help me ID this banjo?  The only identifying information I have is that the headstock says "Apex" but I can find no reference to an Apex brand or model banjo online.  See pics below.

ktbown - Posted - 02/21/2015:  10:39:14

Looks like one of the Bacon builds ...... it should have at least a serial # on the dowel and rim ... most likely mid 1930's

jbalch - Posted - 02/21/2015:  12:53:09

I agree that looks like a Bacon.  The dowel stick may be marked if you check.

chuckt808 - Posted - 02/21/2015:  16:58:23

I have been thinking about buying a tenor banjo to play (I'm not a collector).  Assuming that this was made by Bacon, I am wondering what this might be worth.  I just want to make sure I don't overpay so a ballpark number would be fine.  Apparently it has sat in a case in a closet for 60+ years so it seems the condition is very good.  I appreciate any help, I have tried to guesstimate myself based on other B&D banjos of the time but I really don't know how this would compare to those.  Thanks.

Chuck

ktbown - Posted - 02/21/2015:  17:13:24

I'm pretty sure I know where this banjo is up for sale .... at the $275 I think it is fully priced  ... if you'd offer $200 maybe you guys could meet somewhere in the middle ..... and both be content ..... remember though this is only my opinion and certainly not the last word on banjo values. .... with that said the Bacon banjos are fine instruments and nothing to shy away from even in their modest offerings

chuckt808 - Posted - 02/21/2015:  17:39:10

quote:

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Originally posted by ktbown

I'm pretty sure I know where this banjo is up for sale .... at the $275 I think it is fully priced  ... if you'd offer $200 maybe you guys could meet somewhere in the middle ..... and both be content ..... remember though this is only my opinion and certainly not the last word on banjo values. .... with that said the Bacon banjos are fine instruments and nothing to shy away from even in their modest offerings

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Yup,  that's the one.  It's not that hard to find it with a quick search.  I just wanted to make sure it was a decent banjo at a reasonable price before I contacted the seller.  My background is with openback 5 strings and I am out of my league with tenors.  It certainly sounds like I would be getting a very playable banjo at a very budget price, even at the seller's asking price.  Thanks for your input.

Chuck

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 02/22/2015:  01:47:03

Bacon did build various private-labeled banjos - this seems to be such an example - based on the B&D Senorita model - and built in the 30s.

It will have a 5-digit serial number - stamped at both the rim inside and at the dowel. The number follows the standard sequence - see my general database for the for now known Bacon/B&D banjos acoustudio.dk/BD_and_Bacon_database.html

Many of the private-labeled banjos do also carry a stamp at the dowel "Made by Bacon Banjo--------Groton".

A 30s Senorita in excellent condition does normally sell for 3-400 bucks.

Polle

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 02/22/2015:  08:56:09

Noting what Mr. Flaunoe says about value, please bear in mind that this "Apex" does not appear to be in excellent condition. The armrest has no plating left, the tailpiece cover is missing, and the resonator appears to be a bit scarred. Although built by Bacon, it probably won't have quite the re-sale value of a Senorita because fewer people will have heard of the name "Apex."

It's still a nice banjo, though. The few off-make Bacon-made instruments I've encountered have been very well crafted from high quality parts.

davidwigal - Posted - 02/22/2015:  19:27:26

That looks like a pretty good price range for someone starting-out in tenor; and as is mentioned looks to be a quality build 

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 02/23/2015:  01:29:06

Here´s another private-labeled "Senorita" - a 1934 "Le Mar" of mine - with walnut neck - just now overhauled, refretted and equipped with ABM planet tuners and an ABM Tensionator tailpiece:

A formidable performer - plus quite spectacular looking, I think.

Polle

dculgan - Posted - 02/28/2015:  11:11:31

I purchased this banjo late this morning, at an estate sale. It's serial number 33672 and the inside of the rim is indeed painted silver so I assume it was manufactured by Bacon in Groton. Its condition is pretty much as discussed here, the back of resonator is scratched up and there a few chips as visible in the pictures from the craigslist ad. The fretboard is dyed wood and the heel cap is also engraved celluloid like the peghead overlay. The frets are in very good shape and even though it may have sat in a case for 60 years overall it looks like it was played a bit from the wear to the finish on the back of the neck. The tension hoop plating is very good but the armrest is indeed worn down to the copper under-plating. the plating on the hooks is also mostly gone, the brackets and nuts good. All the original hardware is there with the exception of the tailpiece cover. The tuners are tabbed Grovers. The case was worse than appeared in the ad's pictures, its missing a lot of covering and coming apart at  the seams.

I too had been looking on my local craigslist for an old  tenor of good construction to play, at an affordable price, and I think this banjo will fit the bill. I was able to negotiate the price down to $240 which I am thinking is OK. The seller had "looked up prices of similar vintage banjos on ebay" and thus wouldn't accept my initial lower offer. I waited a week from when chuckt808 posted here before contacting the seller last night, not wanting to "step on anyone's toes" but when the seller emailed me back this morning that it was going in an estate sale today I figured it would probably be sold , maybe to a picker, Philadelphia having a long tenor banjo connection. Dave

chuckt808 - Posted - 02/28/2015:  11:40:11

quote:

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Originally posted by dculgan

I purchased this banjo late this morning, at an estate sale. It's serial number 33672 and the inside of the rim is indeed painted silver so I assume it was manufactured by Bacon in Groton. Its condition is pretty much as discussed here, the back of resonator is scratched up and there a few chips as visible in the pictures from the craigslist ad. The fretboard is dyed wood and the heel cap is also engraved celluloid like the peghead overlay. The frets are in very good shape and even though it may have sat in a case for 60 years overall it looks like it was played a bit from the wear to the finish on the back of the neck. The tension hoop plating is very good but the armrest is indeed worn down to the copper under-plating. the plating on the hooks is also mostly gone, the brackets and nuts good. All the original hardware is there with the exception of the tailpiece cover. The tuners are tabbed Grovers. The case was worse than appeared in the ad's pictures, its missing a lot of covering and coming apart at  the seams.

I too had been looking on my local craigslist for an old  tenor of good construction to play, at an affordable price, and I think this banjo will fit the bill. I was able to negotiate the price down to $240 which I am thinking is OK. The seller had "looked up prices of similar vintage banjos on ebay" and thus wouldn't accept my initial lower offer. I waited a week from when chuckt808 posted here before contacting the seller last night, not wanting to "step on anyone's toes" but when the seller emailed me back this morning that it was going in an estate sale today I figured it would probably be sold , maybe to a picker, Philadelphia having a long tenor banjo connection. Dave

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Bummer.  I was just waiting for a money transfer that came through today and I was going to mail the guy but I knew it was unlikely to last.  Good luck with it!

Chuck