Posted By: Kurt Kemp (+209) | Rate Member
$3,500 USD
Bill Stokes “Showcase” Dow Wilbur Limited Edition Banjo.
Built January/February 2003 by Robin Smith. This one is #5, the last one. Bill Stokes has #1.
There were only 5 made due to the scarcity of the 1920’s Mahogany wood that was used in the Gibson factory at the time. This 1920’s Mahogany came out of a stash that had been stored in a barn by an old, retired furniture maker in North Carolina.
The rim is of Timeless Timber which was sugar maple that had been sunken in Lake Superior since the mid 1850’s. The age of the actual tree when it was cut dates back to when Columbus discovered America. It is an extremely tonal wood due to anaerobic bacteria having fed on the interior of the cells leaving only the cell walls making for a fuller and rounder sound. The multi-ply back of the resonator contains Timeless as well and is the same shallowness as the pre-wars which project sound further than the deeper modern resonators which have a shorter cone, or focal point.
Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, hand cut inlays by Robin Smith. The hardware is pot metal sourced from a number of USA makers at the time.
The 3lb 2.6oz no-hole flathead tone ring was cast by a foundry in Pennsylvania using a metal composition that was created from using a spectrograph analysis on the original 1929 (33) Dow Wilbur Style 3, 9467-11.
The banjo is in fantastic condition as of 8/04/2025 and sounds and plays wonderfully well. Has beautiful tone up and down the neck and vibrates the gut. Comes with a nice HSC.
These Banjos sold for 4350.00 when they were new in 2002/3.
Sound file: youtu.be/vWMTxPY8feU?si=hIiPL_MZu7Lz5Z1x
There are 2 more out there from a year ago in my channel.
Location:
United States, Birch Run, MI, 48415
Shipping:
shipping included in conusa
Payment Methods:
Check/Money Order, Cash (in person), Paypal
Payment Option Notes:
Venmo
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):
Used - Excellent Condition
More Info URL:
Category:
Make:
Dow Wilbur
Ad Status:
Active
Listing No:
111682
Page Views:
6957
This ad will automatically expire 1/14/2027 2:31:58 AM unless updated before that date. To keep the system current, ads expire if not updated for more than 60 days.
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