It's my friend's Dad's old Bakelite Roy Smeck Harmony 5 str.
We got it out the other day to clean it up and restring it and its missing its B string tuner bushing. I know the banjo isn't worth much but it has sentimental value. Plus it's a cool old player to have around, it actually sounds pretty good.
So we are hoping to find a replacement bushing, or a whole new replacement tuner if thats what it takes. Figured somebody on here has restored one or two of these old cheapies and can point me somewhere.
The banjo dates to the late 50s or early 60s I'm, pretty sure. My friend was born in '57 and he remembers his Dad getting it used when he was small. It has the hooks going thru the molded Bakelite rim, with the one screw in the center of the back holding on the resonator. Roy Smeck prominently on the headstock.
The tuners are open geared guitar style, appear to be chrome plated. They appear to be a bit smaller than what Im used to seeing, on similar tuners on guitars. We'd like to keep it original as possible and dont want to enlarge the hole or or change the tuners any more than absolutely necc. I have no idea of how to go about finding something that will work or even how to properly measure the others for to begin to look.
Any helpful hints would be appreciated, thanks.
Edited by - whit on 09/30/2023 18:04:22
I would start by getting some measurements with a micrometer, of the inner and outer diameters. Borrow one or buy one likes this:
Amazon micrometer link
The bushings are available and so are replacement strap tuners.
You are lucky, that's the first banjo I ever played.
Bob Smakula is a member here and either has some bushings or can guide you. http://www.smakula.com
Edited by - Helix on 10/01/2023 04:29:15
whit
Post a picture of what you need on this forum. A picture of the peghead front and back with tuners and bushings installed) and a pic of a bushing removed from the banjo will help ID the manufacturer and make it easier to track down the bushing.
Bob Smakula
Edited by - Bob Smakula on 10/01/2023 05:54:55
I found a set of cheap replacement banjo tuners that look very similar at Stew Mac that come with a couple of different conversion bushings for 3/8 hole vs metric. Just gambled I could make something out of the set work. If the holes line up, or at least cover the existing holes I might just replace the whole set.
If that doesn't work I"ll take some pictures and keep looking . Thanks.
@Helix
Sry trying to upload pics will try again later
@Helix sent you an email.
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