smartnote - Posted - 07/07/2022: 05:42:55
ON NO ACCOUNT BUY THIS BANJO ….!!!!!!!!
GIBSON EARL SCRUGGS no 1230
I bought this banjo on gumtree from a JOHN MORRELL, (UK) who is 80 years old and said he was hanging up his picks..I was thinking £1400.00 was a good price, and he sounded like the real deal, so I bought it..
When I opened the case I knew right away the neck was virtually home made, as was the resonator.
I was fooled as all the ironmongery was correct..
The pot I think is original.
I reckon the banjo had a traumatic accident in its life, and someone swopped everything over.
However,
The neck is an absolute mess… twisted, and bent from side to side…. Let alone the apalling finish to that and the resonator.
When I complained and asked for a refund, instead of acting surprised, he offered me £1000.00 (if anyone else has this experience, please let me know.)
I eventually received £1150.00..
Before the sale he said he had put the banjo to a well known luthier (ahem) DAVID CROZIER
I approached him and this is his reply;
As I stated on the phone, I am an expert on guitars but know nothing about banjos. John asked me to simply adjust the neck relief, which I did. I was not asked to verify the authenticity of the instrument and would have declined to do so if I had been asked: banjos are not my field.
Best wishes,
David
I don’t know what he would have said if it was a mandolin or any other type of stringed instrument….?????
You can see I was foolish to part with the money on one hand, but sorely done on other.
Texasbanjo - Posted - 07/10/2022: 11:24:20
Sorry you got the bad end of the deal. Sometimes it just happens. You do your due diligence and it still turns out bad. As always: Caveat Emptor.
'No-hole Ryan Ring' 3 hrs
'Good Thursday Morning' 10 hrs
