erble - Posted - 06/12/2026:  07:34:09

I have an 11 inch Deering banjo head that has been signed by Greg and Janet Deering, with a 50 years anniversary sticker in the middle.

I was given this as part of a sale of a banjo - the seller included it in the sale as a surprise. What I have been thinking about is I'd probably never fit the head to a banjo as it seems like a shame to use it. Would it be of any value to anyone? Is it the sort of thing people like to buy as a memento?

I don't recall ever seeing one before.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 06/12/2026:  12:28:31

Rubbing alcohol might remove it if it was sharpie. Perhaps naphtha?

kayakeradam - Posted - 06/12/2026:  13:01:00

Joel, don't be mean.

UK-Adam, I'm not sure that it would add much value to the head; I think Greg and Janet are both alive and pretty accessible; don't they go to events?

Still, it's a cool thing.

banjo bill-e - Posted - 06/12/2026:  13:04:30

Any Deering dealers over there? A store might like to display that.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 06/12/2026:  13:30:30

No special value, but it might be of interest to a collector of banjo ephemera.

banjonz - Posted - 06/12/2026:  14:39:27

I have seen Remo heads signed by Earl Scruggs come up for sale on Ebay in the past and the seller had been asking a ludicrous amount for it (in the US$1000's)

erble - Posted - 06/12/2026:  14:56:10

Thanks for the replies, the rubbing alcohol comment made me laugh! It's a nice head, perhaps I'll hang onto it and fit it to a banjo one day. Just wanted to check it wasn't obviously going to be of some value to someone somewhere.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 06/12/2026:  17:15:54

Sorry, was not trying to be mean, I was really being serious. The signatures don't add value. And, as it seems, actually removes value as one might not want to mount it to a banjo because of the signatures.

Removing them would restore the head to being just a head, which on a banjo has a very high value in my opinion.

Helix - Posted - 06/13/2026:  10:02:35

Joel, I concur. I know where this banjo is, played from a musical perspective, no one in the family even remotely talented in this generation. Stickers leave adhesive on lunchboxes and bikes. John Prine played the best he had.