Posted By: sh47 (+26) | Rate Member
$525 USD
This one is a really exquisitely preserved specimen dating from 1900 (+- 10 years), based on my research. Washburn was one of the higher end brands manufactured by Lyon and Healy in Chicago. It features a 10.5" full-spun rim, with a one-piece cherry neck (neck and dowel piece are also a single piece) with a fairly thick ebony fretboard and overlay on the Stewart-style headstock. The condition overall is excellent, with only minor wear to the plating in a few places and a couple spots on the neck where the finish is worn through. The heel cap has some chipping around the edges and a crack (ONLY in the heel cap), and that's the worst of it. The hardware is almost all original including the carved/beaded grained ivoroid tuners (one matching vintage replacement). The hooks and nuts are original except for four matching vintage replacements. My favourite feature is the original "Talon" tailpiece, which is probably the easiest tailpiece I've ever used for nylon strings and has a very unique look on top of that. It also sports a new skin head and bridge.
The neck is still straight and strong in spite of its relatively shallow profile, and the frets are in good shape.
This banjo is not ideally suited for steel strings, as it was designed for a relatively short bridge and relatively high action, by modern standards. The current bridge is 1/2" and the 12th fret string height is just under 1/4", which was standard at the time and works very well with the current Aquila Nylgut strings, but wouldn't be well suited to steel strings. This is the geometry that it was designed to have, and the one-piece neck/dowel stick do not allow for a neck reset without damaging an otherwise exceptionally well-preserved instrument. This banjo would be great for classic style playing or clawhammer with nylon/gut/nylgut strings.
Feel free to message me with any questions.
-Hugh
Location:
Canada, NB
Shipping:
Buyer pays shipping
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):
Used - Very Good Condition
Category:
Make:
Washburn
Ad Status:
Sold
Listing No:
80855
Page Views:
4241
