GINAMARIE888 - Posted - 08/07/2025:  18:12:26

Hoping to get advice on value.

Missing tailpiece,strings & bridge

Edited by - Texasbanjo on 08/08/2025 07:56:55

Bill Rogers - Posted - 08/07/2025:  19:10:26

You’ll need more photos—including close up of the peghead front and rear and the inside. Take it out of the case. A side view of the shell (round part) would help too.

Bob Smakula - Posted - 08/08/2025:  04:33:43

GINAMARIE888

I recommend you Post the pictures directly to this forum. Though they are on your media page, making them easily accessible on this page will get you more replies.

When you (and only you) view this page, you can scroll down to an attachments box that has your media photos. click on each one and they will appear in "your attachments" box. Then click post reply.

Very simple and much more convenient for us that have sucky internet connections.

Bob Smakula

Joel Hooks - Posted - 08/08/2025:  09:28:35

Use the focus feature on your phone. Take the photos in very bright light— take into the sun if you do not have enough light indoors. Normal room lighting is usually not enough.

The Old Timer - Posted - 08/08/2025:  09:37:16

In general what you have there is a Gibson-made "Kel Kroydon" model tenor banjo from around 1930. It was a lower-cost model in the Gibson line (having no tone ring like the "Mastertone" Gibsons) using painted "plastic" veneers to look flashy at the lowest possible cost. Banjo lovers call this early plastic "Mother of Toilet Seat" or MOTS.



The pictures isn't sharp enough to tell but it that's a split head on the right side of the top of the banjo you'll to buy and install a new head. You can buy an authentic pre-war tailpiece of the style that originally came on this banjo for around $40-50 probably. A generic 4 string tailpiece that is "usable" rather than an accurate reproduction is maybe $15. A 4 string bridge is $10. A set of tenor banjo strings is $5 or $6. A new 11" diameter plastic head is $25.

As far as value, everything I say here is prefaced on condition and originality.  Can't tell from the photos.  These banjos are popular among bluegrass players because of the "old bones" of the banjo, being pre-war and all.   Presuming nothing is busted, coming unglued, or been used as a parts donor for someone's project, a bluegrass player would order a 5 string neck from one of several luthiers around the country, and have a "mostly" pre-war banjo to player.  So even a 4 string of this model and age will often sell for $1500 to $2500.  They spend another $1000 or more for a 5 string neck made to reproduce the "look" of the 4 string neck.  Again, this presumes the banjo is not busted up or messed up.

If you want to sell it, the most valuable thing you can do is take LOTS of clear, sharp photos.  Don't try to clean it up or change heads or buy bridges, tailpiece and strings.  Just leave it as it is and put it up for sale here on the BHO.

There is a very small market for these among 4 string players today.   And won't pay as much as a bluegrass player.

FYI, a company called American Made Banjo made a reissue line of Kel Kroyden banjos in the earlier years of this century.  Including a model just like yours, which by its appearance was generally known as "Style 11" (Gibson also issued this same banjo with "Gibson" on peghead back in the 1930s and they called it Style 11).   They were very very good banjos indeed.

Often these pre-war models were painted blue or black on the sides of the resonator and on the back of the neck. Sometimes brown too.  You might want to get good photos to show what color yours is.  Folks used to call them "the blue banjo" before the "style 11" nomenclature was unearthed.

Finally while the Gibson Style 11 often had a serial number or FON (Factory Order Number) stamped inside the wooden rim or perhaps in the back of the peghead.  Gibson often omitted these numbers from the Kel Kroyen labeled banjos.

I think back in the original days, Kel Kroydens were actually marketed by the Montgomery Ward catalog as their own product.

You can look on the GregEarnestBanjo website of Gibson banjos to see great photos of original Gibson Style 11s and the similar Kel Kroydon version.  earnestbanjo.com/wp/kel-kroydo...gibson-2/

Good luck.

Edited by - The Old Timer on 08/08/2025 09:52:09

Dan Gellert - Posted - 08/08/2025:  11:42:14

quote:

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

If you want to sell it, the most valuable thing you can do is take LOTS of clear, sharp photos.  Don't try to clean it up or change heads or buy bridges, tailpiece and strings.  Just leave it as it is and put it up for sale here on the BHO.

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    ^^^^   Good advice here.  ^^^

I'll add:    Clean the lens on your camera (phone)!  If your pictures still look anywhere near that fuzzy, you'll want to take any further shots using a different device, and it would also be a good idea to request some help from someone who's a bit more of a photography geek than yourself.

GINAMARIE888 - Posted - 08/08/2025:  15:03:48

quote:

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Originally posted by GINAMARIE888

Hoping to get advice on value.

Missing tailpiece,strings & bridge

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GINAMARIE888 - Posted - 08/08/2025:  15:50:10

Thank u for all the feedback back
.still figuring out this site

 

lightgauge - Posted - 08/08/2025:  17:42:36

Should make a good conversion. Not the prettiest of colors, but would love to find one on my side of the country!

Bill Rogers - Posted - 08/08/2025:  22:01:02

If you want to sell it, take a day and take it to Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto. About a 2:45 drive for you. They will evaluate it and suggest options. I have done business with them since 1974. Call first. You want to talk with Richard or Michael. T/W/Th both should be there .gryphonstrings.com/   

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 08/08/2025 22:04:09