5Wires - Posted - 06/04/2026:  07:31:39

Hiho.



Not posted in a while but recently acquired a 1926 Granada TB archtop converted to a flathead 5. Huber tone ring and neck by Frank Neat.

Edited by - 5Wires on 06/04/2026 07:36:20

Granada 2

Granada 3

Granada 1

 

5Wires - Posted - 06/04/2026:  07:39:09

More pics

Edited by - 5Wires on 06/04/2026 07:41:26

Granada 4

Granada 5

Granada 6

 

TScottHilton - Posted - 06/04/2026:  07:44:31

Does it play and sound like a dream? It sure is pretty. Congrats!

5Wires - Posted - 06/04/2026:  07:50:36

Hi Tyler - once I’d got the head at 91 with a drum dial, changed from lights to almost mediums and gave the action a tweak - oooh heck. It’s a cannon! It could do with a slightly higher action but I found it threw the intonation at the 2nd fret. Going to take it to Laurie Grundy in a couple of months for a look. There’s a certain amount I can do, but I won’t touch a truss rod! It’s playing great currently though so I’m leaving it be while we get to know each other.

kyleb - Posted - 06/04/2026:  09:08:44

thats is awesome! congrats!

Realbluegrassfan - Posted - 06/04/2026:  09:35:29

Nice find.

Post some sound clips when you get it where you want it.

ChunoTheDog - Posted - 06/04/2026:  12:13:39

quote:

---

Originally posted by 5Wires

Hi Tyler - once I’d got the head at 91 with a drum dial, changed from lights to almost mediums and gave the action a tweak - oooh heck. It’s a cannon! It could do with a slightly higher action but I found it threw the intonation at the 2nd fret. Going to take it to Laurie Grundy in a couple of months for a look. There’s a certain amount I can do, but I won’t touch a truss rod! It’s playing great currently though so I’m leaving it be while we get to know each other.

---

The truss rod is there for a reason...

Adjusting bow. Dont be shy to use it 

5Wires - Posted - 06/04/2026:  14:37:10

I know what truss rods are and how they work. It’s not a fear of using it at all - I’m lucky to have a multi instrument luthier living a suburb over and he’s done adjustments on my RB3 and D28 style custom guitar. To date I’ve not done any truss rod adjustments myself. Further in a couple of months I’ll be spending a few days with Laurie - a Granada expert and builder of Grundy banjos. I’ll get a primer off him - but right now it’s playing beautifully as is. Cheers.

The Old Timer - Posted - 06/07/2026:  16:42:30

Ah what a beauty! Is that an original notched tension hoop? Most (not all) ball bearings had a grooved tension hoop with flat hooks. I have a 26 Granada; it was my first "old banjo" back in 1977. I still love it. Congrats.

5Wires - Posted - 06/08/2026:  22:35:23

Hi Dick, thanks for your post. Yes. According to Greg Easterling the notched tension hoop and round tension hooks came in late 1926 but prior to it was as you describe - grooved tension hoop and flat hooks. He said we often think 1927 with notched/round, but late ‘26 is when they started showing up. According to the previous owner the only changes were the 5 string and tuners and the flat head tone ring. I’m utterly thrilled with it!

The Old Timer - Posted - 06/09/2026:  08:12:17

It's my understanding (I could be wrong!) that Ron Block with AKUS, used a 26 Granada with a flat head conversion as his main axe, and may still be using. I believe his had the groove tension hoop and flat hooks.

If anyone knows details I hope you'll share.