HSmith - Posted - 05/30/2026:  08:01:00

The auction house Gardiner Houlgate (who specialize in musical instruments and collectibles) are listing some wonderful banjos in their June auction. There are several Granadas, two Florentines, a Bella Voce and an All American. They are all tenor banjos, and I imagine they must form part of an estate sale or from a private collector. I have no connection to either the seller or the auction house, and I'm posting this simply because we rarely see instruments like this, especially in the UK. Here's a link auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.u...ilter=BAN

Banner Blue - Posted - 05/30/2026:  10:34:59

Thanks for sharing. Lots of high-end Gibson vintage banjos. Will be fun to follow the auction.

The Old Timer - Posted - 05/30/2026:  11:06:29

Wow, the All American has a 97xx FON and is a ONE PIECE FLANGE.



Auction adds 26.4% (includes VAT tax) in fees to the winning price. I can't imagine the fees to get something shipped to the US.



Having this many Style 6s and Bella Voces hit the market all at once might make prices MUCH more competitive for awhile, I guess.



The ball bearing Granada has too high of an opening bid I think. The 6's and Bella Voces and Florentine seem to have opening bids at roughly around market value. The All American opening bid seems low.



Finally, a few of theses banjos looks "so shiny" one wonders if they're replated/restored. The All American certainly looks like original gold based on how worn away it is at the flange.



I saw the name Buddy Wachter in the description of one of them.



The Florentine is interesting for the double cut peghead on a 2 piece flange. Later factory replacement neck?



Quite a haul.

Edited by - The Old Timer on 05/30/2026 11:07:33

eljimb0 - Posted - 05/31/2026:  23:52:22

the epiphone seems to have a 5 sting grover presto. 60 pounds is what,, 80 bucks :)

BanjoLink - Posted - 06/01/2026:  04:59:05

I've got one of each of those Gibsons ...... I think, except maybe the ball bearing Granada that I would may consider selling if anyone is interested. However, my All American is a five-string and a "new" 70's version ....... and you wouldn't have to have them sent from Germany.

The Old Timer - Posted - 06/01/2026:  08:20:09

John B is your AA for sale?

BanjoLink - Posted - 06/01/2026:  12:18:34

quote:

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

John B is your AA for sale?

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Dick ...... I would probably sell it.  I don't think it has hardly been played, as I sure haven't.  I'm not really sure what a reasonable sales price for it would be, as it would be ridiculous to think what a new one (if they were still making them) would cost ...... but that really isn't relevant.  I'm just getting to the point that I don't need all of these things sitting around.

neuronz - Posted - 06/16/2026:  16:57:55

Does anyone know what the Gibson banjos sold for?

eljimb0 - Posted - 06/16/2026:  23:27:27

quote:

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Originally posted by neuronz

Does anyone know what the Gibson banjos sold for?

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the style 6 went for 7200 pounds, follow the link at the beginning of this thread

neuronz - Posted - 06/18/2026:  16:23:43

When I click on the "unsold" button, it appears that most of the Gibsons didn't sell. I would assume that there was a "reserve" price, and bids did not exceed that reserve.