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Andyrhydycreuau - Posted - 04/06/2026: 09:18:09
Here's one for the Windsor and other English experts.
I'm sure this neck is Windsor, but I can't find a Windsor model with a pot and tailpiece like this. Is the pot Windsor, or Abbott? Or something else?
I don't have the banjo yet, so i only have the eBay photos to go on for now......
Thanks in advance!
Stephen John Prior - Posted - 04/06/2026: 09:45:11
Yep Windsor neck. Not sure about the rim possibly Essex ? I can't seem to enlarge the resonator photo, could be Essex or maybe Jedson. Seems to have put together well. Post some more detailed photos when you have it to hand.
Andyrhydycreuau - Posted - 04/06/2026: 10:01:35
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen John Prior
Yep Windsor neck. Not sure about the rim possibly Essex ? I can't seem to enlarge the resonator photo, could be Essex or maybe Jedson. Seems to have put together well. Post some more detailed photos when you have it to hand.
Ok, thanks Steve,
eBay delivery messages say it will be after the weekend - I'll post more when I get it.
I played a friend's Jedson recently the resonator and flange were very similar (Slingerland inspired I guess) but the pot has me wondering.
If it works, and will come off, the pick up is worth what I paid for it....
Stephen John Prior - Posted - 04/06/2026: 10:42:09
quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen John Prior
Yep Windsor neck. Not sure about the rim possibly Essex ? I can't seem to enlarge the resonator photo, could be Essex or maybe Jedson. Seems to have put together well. Post some more detailed photos when you have it to hand.
Ok, thanks Steve,
eBay delivery messages say it will be after the weekend - I'll post more when I get it.
I played a friend's Jedson recently the resonator and flange were very similar (Slingerland inspired I guess) but the pot has me wondering.
If it works, and will come off, the pick up is worth what I paid for it....
The resonator looks more like Jedson to me. The double flange is very odd. The tension hoop is really nice do you know the diameter ?
Andyrhydycreuau - Posted - 04/06/2026: 12:26:45
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen John Prior
quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen John Prior
Yep Windsor neck. Not sure about the rim possibly Essex ? I can't seem to enlarge the resonator photo, could be Essex or maybe Jedson. Seems to have put together well. Post some more detailed photos when you have it to hand.
Ok, thanks Steve,
eBay delivery messages say it will be after the weekend - I'll post more when I get it.
I played a friend's Jedson recently the resonator and flange were very similar (Slingerland inspired I guess) but the pot has me wondering.
If it works, and will come off, the pick up is worth what I paid for it....
The resonator looks more like Jedson to me. The double flange is very odd. The tension hoop is really nice do you know the diameter ?
Not yet Steve.
Stephen John Prior - Posted - 04/06/2026: 12:48:14
quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen John Prior
quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen John Prior
Yep Windsor neck. Not sure about the rim possibly Essex ? I can't seem to enlarge the resonator photo, could be Essex or maybe Jedson. Seems to have put together well. Post some more detailed photos when you have it to hand.
Ok, thanks Steve,
eBay delivery messages say it will be after the weekend - I'll post more when I get it.
I played a friend's Jedson recently the resonator and flange were very similar (Slingerland inspired I guess) but the pot has me wondering.
If it works, and will come off, the pick up is worth what I paid for it....
The resonator looks more like Jedson to me. The double flange is very odd. The tension hoop is really nice do you know the diameter ?
Not yet Steve.
I think the neck is from a Windsor Gem.
Jerry Hatrick - Posted - 04/06/2026: 14:24:50
The neck and its inlay certainly looks like a Windsor, but the peg head shape looks different to me (and would typically have some ID almost invisibly engraved into the wood). I had a Jedson once too, and it did have a similar blonde resonator, with a couple of inlay rings on the back, which you can’t really see in these pix.
Stephen John Prior - Posted - 04/06/2026: 23:35:02
quote:
Originally posted by Jerry Hatrick
The neck and its inlay certainly looks like a Windsor, but the peg head shape looks different to me (and would typically have some ID almost invisibly engraved into the wood). I had a Jedson once too, and it did have a similar blonde resonator, with a couple of inlay rings on the back, which you can’t really see in these pix.
The peghead pattern is most certainly the one Windsor used on the Gem as is the heel. I think it's likely been refinished so the stamp may have been sanded out. Any thoughts from Australia Derrick ?
Jerry Hatrick - Posted - 04/07/2026: 04:53:51
Fair enough, but here’s the peg head on my Windsor No. 1 tenor (the pegs are replacements though).
Stephen John Prior - Posted - 04/07/2026: 05:43:54
Just looked out this catalogue. Looks like the neck is from an Ambassador Supremus.
Jerry Hatrick - Posted - 04/07/2026: 09:52:54
Yep, agreed; an Ambassador neck. Mine’s a Popular No. 1 (the lowest of the low).
Andyrhydycreuau - Posted - 04/09/2026: 05:50:23
So here are photos of the pot and resonator. The resonator seems to fit the neck, and is not the same as the Jedson I played recently.
But the pot with holes through the rim? And the spunover brass with integrated lug/holes for the hooks? Any ideas? Could this be a Windsor experiment?
Or something different?
Stephen John Prior - Posted - 04/09/2026: 11:49:16
quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
So here are photos of the pot and resonator. The resonator seems to fit the neck, and is not the same as the Jedson I played recently.
But the pot with holes through the rim? And the spunover brass with integrated lug/holes for the hooks? Any ideas? Could this be a Windsor experiment?
Or something different?
Personally I think it's a parts banjo someone has put together. The converted 5 string neck is certainly Windsor. The resonator flange is made up from various pieces and extra holes added quite crudely. The straight cutout on the Resonator could have just been rounded out the accomodate the Windsor neck. I think whoever put this together may have added the lining to an older rim. The rim looks similar to one of the old Buchanan metal rims. The tension hoop could be by a number of makers. Abbott, Essex, Young etc all used the Professional tailpiece. Out of interest what is the diameter of the rim ? Reasonably easy to convert to a 5 string :-)
Andyrhydycreuau - Posted - 04/09/2026: 12:35:19
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen John Prior
quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
So here are photos of the pot and resonator. The resonator seems to fit the neck, and is not the same as the Jedson I played recently.
But the pot with holes through the rim? And the spunover brass with integrated lug/holes for the hooks? Any ideas? Could this be a Windsor experiment?
Or something different?
Personally I think it's a parts banjo someone has put together. The converted 5 string neck is certainly Windsor. The resonator flange is made up from various pieces and extra holes added quite crudely. The straight cutout on the Resonator could have just been rounded out the accomodate the Windsor neck. I think whoever put this together may have added the lining to an older rim. The rim looks similar to one of the old Buchanan metal rims. The tension hoop could be by a number of makers. Abbott, Essex, Young etc all used the Professional tailpiece. Out of interest what is the diameter of the rim ? Reasonably easy to convert to a 5 string :-)
Thanks Steve, I'll measure and upload when I'm back.
I'm probably just going to sell on as parts I think. I haven't tested the pickup yet, but I may hang on to that. There are some odd 2:1 planetary tuners on it which I've never seen before either.
Andyrhydycreuau - Posted - 04/10/2026: 02:23:31
The pot measures 11" or maybe 10 15/16ths.
The wooden part of the pot is hollow and so seems to be a tone chamber or internal resonator or similar. The holes are sound holes rimmed with a dark wood. It doesn't look home made to me. Though it doesn't look strong enough to be structural as a pot on its own.
The brass / nickel outer shell of the pot does look strong enough to function as a pot on its own though.
The resonator neck slot was definitely rounded out from an original rectangular slot.
Stephen John Prior - Posted - 04/11/2026: 01:29:43
quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
The pot measures 11" or maybe 10 15/16ths.
The wooden part of the pot is hollow and so seems to be a tone chamber or internal resonator or similar. The holes are sound holes rimmed with a dark wood. It doesn't look home made to me. Though it doesn't look strong enough to be structural as a pot on its own.
The brass / nickel outer shell of the pot does look strong enough to function as a pot on its own though.
The resonator neck slot was definitely rounded out from an original rectangular slot.
I'm still inclined to think it's an amateur builders project Andy. If you look closely at the internal resonator I would expect a professional could centre a drill. Out of interest I would like to see the type of tuners fitted. Windsor made a comfortable neck and I think if it was mine I would be inclined to open up the 5th string tuner hole fit a tuner and see how it plays as a 5 string.
deke46 - Posted - 04/11/2026: 19:31:31
Hi Andy, I tend to agree with Steve, definitely home made job using bits and pieces from several different banjos. Windsor neck for sure, Clifford Essex scalloped rim and Professional tailpiece, resonator and flange ? anyones guess.
I seem to remember several years ago there was a trend of trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear by retrofitting a wooden rim inside a bottle top rim to get some sort of tone.
The vintage Essex parts are the best bits.
Andyrhydycreuau - Posted - 04/13/2026: 08:09:53
quote:
Originally posted by deke46
Hi Andy, I tend to agree with Steve, definitely home made job using bits and pieces from several different banjos. Windsor neck for sure, Clifford Essex scalloped rim and Professional tailpiece, resonator and flange ? anyones guess.
I seem to remember several years ago there was a trend of trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear by retrofitting a wooden rim inside a bottle top rim to get some sort of tone.
The vintage Essex parts are the best bits.
Thanks Derrick - that seems like consensus on the wooden inner tone chamber thingy. The pot appears to be good quality, old nickel plated brass though, so not quite a bottle cap as they are now!
@stephen_john_prior here is an image of the tiny 2:1 pancake tuners. If you have anything like this I would have the skills to drill out a fit it. Better to make it playable as at least part of it was originally intended! DM if you do have one, and let me know a price pls.
Thanks all!
