Can anyone give me some ideas of the makers that would have a headstock of this shape and a dowel adjuster of this style? These are the only two photos I have, but it is a spun over rim, black painted interior with slotted screws, and some pretty nice inlay on the fretboard. It has, what I believe to be , an Eleanor D Son tailpiece. Not much to go on but, any help appreciated ….
Mike
I believe this was possibly a Cole product.
If you look at the dowel adjuster, you can see where the dowel stick was notched out underneath it, in the same way as a Cole neck attachment. The Fairbanks/Vega style horseshoe appears to be added over top of the notch. The headstock shape resembles closely some of Cole's products.
Are there any markings inside the rim? Names; serial numbers, patents, etc. Pictures of the inlay and other parts of the banjo would help a lot.
I agree with Harry. It looks like a low-end Cole to me as well.
That is not a "dowel adjuster." It is to keep the neck heel tight to the rim. You can't change the neck angle or the action with that bracket.
You are correct, that should have read “dowel hardware.
Thanks for your input fellas.
That dowel hardware was used by many manufactures and is still available today.
Rex
