Info about a used Chanterelle

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Ramsey Banjo Owners

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A group for those who own one of Mike Ramsey's wonderful banjos!

165 Members, Created 10/28/2011 -

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From littlewing1208 on 4/17/2019 8:26:21 AM

Hi, I’m looking at this Ramsey 12” Chanterelle Standard (2012 build date).

It is described as: 2012, 12" open back, mahogany neck, dark to black finish, ebony fingerboard with frailing scoop and spikes on 7th-10th frets, brass hoop tone ring, nickel-plated hardware, no-knot tailpiece, Gibson-style armrest, planetary tuners with pearloid buttons, Remo Fiberskyn head. In excellent condition, includes hard case and the original Renaissance head.

A few things I noticed: the headstock inlay of the planet Saturn seems atypical for a Chanterelle (though the data/pictures are limited). Also the rim is very thin and is painted (not stained) black so I’m not sure what kind of wood it is made of.

Does anyone have any info about this model and potential wood choice of the rim? Does $950 seem reasonable for a price?

Thanks

6 Comments
	montanamike says: 4/17/2019 8:43:37 AM I dont have a lot to offer but mine looks similar to the one I think you are describing. If it strikes your fancy, I think the price is reasonable. I think the consensus is he made some wonderful banjos and some maybe not as wonderful. That being said, I really like mine.
	Castania says: 4/17/2019 10:03:25 AM All things checking out . . . this seems reasonable. I paid more than that for mine (a Special) in 1997. An atypical adornment would only be an issue if "knock-offs" were being produced in dark, sweat shops . . . haven't heard anything like that. Ask questions, check it out carefully, if possible, get a "buy on approval" . . . and go for it.
	ZEPP says: 4/17/2019 6:26:28 PM Mike's Standard model has a thin, laminated maple rim, indeed painted black. (His Special model has the same rim, but with a veneer of nicer maple to match its maple neck. FWIW, the pots of his Student model started out without the paint or the veneer--definitely a utility grade of wood--but they all sound pretty much the same! Mike bought tubes of these laminated rims from a drum manufacturer (sorry, but I don't remember from whom...if Mike ever told me) and then salami-sliced the tubes into rims. Regarding his Saturn inlay: Mike cut those by hand--thus, they are unique, some "better" than others. In short, sounds like a "normal" Standard at a good price.
littlewing1208 says: 4/17/2019 8:02:47 PM Thanks folks!
	ZEPP says: 4/18/2019 5:51:27 AM Mike's Standard model has a thin, laminated maple rim, indeed painted black. (His Special model has the same rim, but with a veneer of nicer maple to match its maple neck. FWIW, the pots of his Student model started out without the paint or the veneer--definitely a utility grade of wood--but they all sound pretty much the same! Mike bought tubes of these laminated rims from a drum manufacturer (sorry, but I don't remember from whom...if Mike ever told me) and then salami-sliced the tubes into rims. Regarding his Saturn inlay: Mike cut those by hand--thus, they are unique, some "better" than others. In short, sounds like a "normal" Standard at a good price.
	ZEPP says: 4/18/2019 10:44:12 AM Mike's Standard model has a thin, laminated maple rim, indeed painted black. (His Special model has the same rim, but with a veneer of nicer maple to match its maple neck. FWIW, the pots of his Student model started out without the paint or the veneer--definitely a utility grade of wood--but they all sound pretty much the same! Mike bought tubes of these laminated rims from a drum manufacturer (sorry, but I don't remember from whom...if Mike ever told me) and then salami-sliced the tubes into rims. Regarding his Saturn inlay: Mike cut those by hand--thus, they are unique, some "better" than others. In short, sounds like a "normal" Standard at a good price.
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