Posted By: tubeandplate (+49) | Rate Member
$450 USD
This is an Alvarez Silver Princess banjo made in Japan by Alvarez in the early 1970's.
The replication of the Vega Tubaphone that Alvarez did is impressive regarding the details:
* 10 15/16" head size
*prewar Vega style hardware and construction including double pointed shoes and closed ball end nuts, shoe band, tubaphone tonering, 3 piece mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, notched stretcher band, Vega style pointed heel
* 27" fret scale
*chrome instead of nickel plating
Like many of the Japanese made import 1970's banjos, this one is well made and solid with a working truss rod in the mahogany neck.
This banjo is all original and was treated well with not much playwear; the only non original things I find are new replacement pancake style tuners on the peghead and a newer Presto tailpiece with the body only.
I have it set up with the original pre EPA head which is in good condition, and a 0.656" high handmade Wadsworth bridge.
As it is now and in the video, it has a 5/32" action at the last/22nd fret; the action could painlessly and easily be raised or lowered with either a 5/8" or 11/16" bridge. It has light gauge strings on it now.
The main difference constructionally in this banjo from the old Tubaphones besides the peghead inlay and slight change to the peghead shape are the bordering on the rim (one small crack in interior rim binding as pictured, but solid) and the use of coordinator rods instead of a rim stick. This was a great idea, and the usual Gibson style tailpiece L bracket was engineered on this banjo to have a Vega style ball end for the tailpiece, which is a nice aesthetic touch. The coordinator rod system in this banjo does not work the same as and is not the same design as the typical Gibson system. Personally, I don't care for this design as it's a bit tedious to disassemble and adjust, but it is completely factory original.
The neck is straight with no twist and very slight relief with the one way truss rod (that works well) relaxed.
I did clean the fingerboard, and tweak the fifth string nut so that it doesn't buzz, but other than that, this banjo is all original as from the factory with little wear as described in this post. The nut slots are getting a bit worn/low, and I can offer some help to the new owner before shipping with this if desired.
I decided to sell this as is per factory original so that the new owner can have a fresh starting point with it since I am not a clawhammer player.
These are good banjos, and can be GREAT project banjos to modify. As with most of the mid to higher grade Japanese prewar banjo copies that were imported in the 70's, this is made with great materials and parts, and designed well, but some of the assembly dimensions and parts are not perfect out of the box....but plays and sounds great anyway.
Russ Carson who plays banjo with Ricky Skaggs and is an accomplished clawhammer player is shown in the youtube video in the link below playing and talking about this banjo with some more verbal description by me as well.
youtube.com/watch?v=FyqwzdhcX58
There is no case with this banjo, but it will be packed carefully and double boxed for shipment.
I am a professional banjo luthier and my credentials and customer reviews can be seen on this forum here:
banjohangout.org/luthier/tubeandplate
banjohangout.org/reviews/searc...edir=true
This banjo is sold as is and as described with no returns. I welcome your questions and will do my best to answer them for you.
Things I may be interested in as possible trade items with appropriate boot money in either direction as appropriate are Bacon and Day Special series and Silver Bell banjos and/or parts from the Groton, CT period, large size Vega flangeless resonator(s), Fairbanks and/or Cole basket case/orphan banjos or parts, Vega double pointed shoes.
Merry Christmas
Location:
United States, Springfield, TN, 37172
Shipping:
paid by buyer
Payment Methods:
Check/Money Order, Paypal
Payment Option Notes:
checks and money orders wait to clear; Paypal add 4% to cover fees
Return Policy:
Returns not accepted.
Condition of Item(s):
Used - Very Good Condition
Category:
Make:
Alvarez
Ad Status:
Sold
Listing No:
48561
Page Views:
8422
