Hey all!
Brand new to the site. Looking to get some background info on my Ode banjo (year and location made, materials and any history)
Thanks in advance!!
Welcome!
We would need to see some photos - particularly the label on the inside of the rim, if there is one.
Uploading photos to the site is not that intuitive (I wish there was a FAQ on this)
Then there is a way to link them to a post by scrolling down to the Attachments below. Or, I guess you can upload photos from there also.
Hope that helps!
Edited by - Laurence Diehl on 08/10/2024 09:48:57
Sorry about that. Thought they were attached
Model 6500
Serial number
5-80-52
Did the photos come through?
Yes - it's a beauty!
Style "D", made in Arkansas in 1980. Others are more knowledgeable, I'll hurt myself if I say more.
ODE has a long and storied history, maybe others can go into. This is my favorite banjo!
May of 1980 52nd banjo made that month
I once owned a Style D "Baldwin Ode" made in Arkansas. Great banjo; wish I still had it.
Does anybody know what the woods are? Looks like walnut to me, ebony fingerboard. But the tone ring?
And thx for all the info so far!!
May 80th 1952
quote:
Originally posted by mrdreyerDoes anybody know what the woods are? Looks like walnut to me, ebony fingerboard. But the tone ring?
And thx for all the info so far!!
Should be walnut. Some were rosewood!
Do you have the truss rod wrench for adjusting the neck bow?
Matt.
All Baldwin/Ode Style D and Style C were made of Walnut with an ebony fingerboard. Yours was made during the last year of production in 1980, although there are rumors of some being made in early 1981. Rosewood ODEs (models D, E and F) were made prior to the Baldwin buyout in 1965-1966.
After Baldwin purchased the ODE company, from 1966 - appx 1972, all banjos had only the Baldwin banner on the headstock. Engraved tailpieces and armrests were added in 1968.
After that, they had both Baldwin and ODE on the headstock. The later style "D" banjos (around 1977-1980) dropped the Baldwin banner and kept only the "ODE" name on the headstock.
The tone ring is likely bell bronze. Most of the metal parts on Baldwins, (excepting some parts like bracket hooks, nuts, tuners, etc.), were brass/bronze. The flanges are quite thick, so there is no pullup as often happens on the pre-war Gibson Zamac flanges.
As far as the neck adjusting tool, check out Tommy George's home page as he has pictures of the 2 varieties of adjusting tools (on page 5). I gather that these can be made out of a piece of pipe that is "flattened" on one end. I have the original tool that came with my "D" that I purchased new in the '60's.
I think that about covers it.
Take it Easy ... MarK
Thanks all!! Much appreciated!!
Matt
