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For Sale: K. VanMeter Figured Maple Dobson Banjo

Posted By: kylevanmeter (+3) | Rate Member
 Member 6+ Years  Verified Seller  Returns allowed with money back refund

$2,350 USD

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This banjo, Serial Number 22 is a faithful reproduction of the HC Dobson 1881 Silver Bell Patent banjo design with a slotted headstock and 5th string pegbox.

The rim, cladding, and tone ring is fabricated using traditional hand cranked tin smithing machines and metal spinning forms to mirror the historic 1880’s New York job shop banjo manufacturing process. The tone ring is hand spun with a thin 24 gauge brass material, heat treated, and work hardened during spinning to mirror the resonant properties and weight of the original tone rings. The rim is 2.5” deep plus the tone ring arch height. A 5/16” diameter brass hoop on the top/bottom edges are encased by a 22 gauge brass sheet metal which wraps a thin maple core rim. The maple core is hand brushed with black paint.

The neck profile and shape are modeled after a blend of my two favorite HC Dobson slotted headstock banjos I have had the chance to study. The length from the nut to the rim is 18.5” with a comfortable 1 5/16” width at the nut. The banjo is set up with a set of Ome Light Gauge steel strings with a nickel wound 4th. The banjo has a 1.5 degree neck angle and plays comfortably with a 9/16” bridge in standard tuning.

The unique 5th string tuning peg nut is located at the 7th fret to position to match the majority of Henry Dobson’s original slotted headstock banjo design. This affords a considerable amount of additional maneuvering room and comfort when playing below the 5th position. The pegbox is built out from the neck to allow unimpeded access when playing up the neck past the 7th position. The tuning machines are Grover Sta-tite series with a 18:1 gear reduction. This significant gear reduction allows strings to be tuned with considerable accuracy compared to the 4:1 ratio on Goto or Peghed brand tuning machines.

The general banjo specifications are as follows:

11? Nickel Silver Spunover ¼” Rim
Hand Spun 24 gauge Brass Tone Ring
Figured Maple Neck
Hand Rubbed Semigloss Lacquer Finish
Slotted Headstock Shape
1-5/16? White Bone Nut
26 3/16? Scale Length
Narrow/Medium Fretwire
Oiled Rosewood Fingerboard
Rosewood Peghead Overlay
5th string tuner at 7th fret position
Nickel Plated Hardware
Mother of Pearl Inlay Dots
Remo Renaissance Head (Stainted and Shellac Coated)
Grover Sta-tite Tuning Machines
Nickel Plated No-Knot Tailpiece
18 Hook 3/16" Grooved Tension Hoop
Seeders Violin Bridge


Video sound samples below:
youtu.be/U3hDbKSjRTo
youtu.be/GhZf_GJX52M

Location:

United States, Liberty Twp, OH, 45011

Shipping:

Shipping approx. $75 USPS

Payment Methods:

Check/Money Order, Cash (in person), Paypal

Return Policy:

Returns accepted. Buyer must contact seller within 2 days to arrange return. Refund will be given as Money Back. Buyer pays return shipping.

Condition of Item(s):

New

Category:

Make:

K. VanMeter

Ad Status:

Active

Listing No:

107963

Page Views:

940


This ad will automatically expire 4/1/2025 1:28:08 PM unless updated before that date. To keep the system current, ads expire if not updated for more than 60 days.

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