Can anyone help me identify an old Deering from these photos? This was gifted to my son from an older gentleman who passed away, and we'd love to know what we have. Thank you!
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It looks like an older version of the Maple Blossom.
Mark is correct. It's a Maple Blossom.
Remove the resonator by removing the 4 thumbscrews and you should see a label on the floor of the resonator that says Maple Blossom and has a long serial number.
The first two digits of the serial number indicate month. The last two digits before a dash or letter indicate year. The numbers between month and year indicate the total or sequential number of this model (that is, how many Maple Blossoms through this one). The four numbers after the dash, or the last four characters including a letter, are the neck code. They match the characters stamped on the back of the peghead. I guess they're a way of tracking the neck or to confirm it's still with its original banjo.
Nice banjo. Here is the current page on these:
Like all Deerings, specs can change over the years so this page description may not accurately represent your son's. Still it is the place to start.
Is the fretboard flat or radiussed (curved)?
As others have said, that's a Deering Maple Blossom.
The head looks a bit worn, and the metal has some nickel fogging (can be cleaned up), but the wood looks good.
That's a nice instrument, definitely not a cheap banjo. If your son plays, it's a keeper.
