https://www.auctionzip.com/auction-lot/the-quarrymen-john-lennon-and-rod-davis-1950s-pla_AED4AC8A72
"A five string banjo played by Rod Davis and John Lennon in The Quarrymen from 1956-1957. Acquired shortly before he joined Lennon’s skiffle group in late 1956, the banjo was played by Davis at numerous gigs across Liverpool including on 6 July 1957 at St Peter’s Church in Woolton, when Lennon first met Paul McCartney. ‘When John Lennon broke a string during a performance he would take over my banjo mid-song and continue playing it until the end of the song, by which time I would have replaced the string on his guitar and we would swap back. When we practised at his mother Julia’s house she would often borrow it to play and show us more chords as she said she preferred my banjo to the guitars of John and Eric Griffiths, the other guitarist in The Quarrymen’. Stamped at the headstock VICTOR / SUPREMUS and the applied brass nameplate THE WHIRLE / REG. 450220 WINDSOR MAKER BIRMINGHAM ENG, the pot of beechwood with nickel-plated sheathing, the twenty tension bracket hooks, lugs, shoes and separate flanges all nickel-plated, the neck of mahogany with ebony fingerboard and pearl eyes, the laminated mahogany resonator with sycamore banding, diameter of the head 10 5/8 in. (27cm) Provenance: Accompanied by a photograph of the banjo being played by Davis with Lennon on guitar and a detailed letter from Rod Davis (b.1942; acquired in 1956; exhibited at the Beatles Story Museum, Liverpool, 2002-2013). "
There are more pics of the case than of the banjo? And what is that thing that looks like a violin bow with a rag attached?
I"m not related to this banjo or the auction, just sharing what i found
quote:
Originally posted by PrairieSchoonerThere are more pics of the case than of the banjo? And what is that thing that looks like a violin bow with a rag attached?
It looks like an early folding banjo stand.
quote:
Originally posted by kylebI"m not related to this banjo or the auction, just sharing what i found
My comment wasn't a criticism; sorry if it came off as one.
the issue i see here is that the photo included doesnt show the banjo.
More pictures of the banjo aren't necessary. What purpose would they serve? The only value on the whole thing is the provenance. It's a <$150 banjo without the provenance.
This auction is for a photograph of John Lennon not-playing this banjo, and a letter from somebody-who-isn't-John-Lennon that this banjo was once owned by John Lennon.
Edited by - KCJones on 11/12/2024 09:35:03
quote:
Originally posted by KCJonesMore pictures of the banjo aren't necessary. What purpose would they serve? The only value on the whole thing is the provenance. It's a <$150 banjo without the provenance.
This auction is for a photograph of John Lennon not-playing this banjo, and a letter from somebody-who-isn't-John-Lennon that this banjo was once owned by John Lennon.
yeah, exactly why i posted this. I really wonder about the "value" here. It would be one thing if the picture proved the connection, but without it, its third party provenance . I would be extremely skeptical if someone came to me with it and made the claim. Yes there is a letter, which we cant see for some reason. There is plenty of evidence that the author was in the quarymen, so thats good, but what evidence is there that this banjo is the one mentioned in the letter? I dont see any here. The value attributed to this seems insane to me, but beatles collectors do pay a pretty penny for items..
So, this is a banjo owned by Rod Davis (who admits he never really played it, only "thrashed at chords"). That is it.
Lennon could have played it, but Lennon also used telephones, rode on busses, rode in taxi cabs, ate off of plates in restaurants, etc., I don't see how that really ads any value.
So for auction is a jobber level Windsor with a story.
I hope a sucker pays every dime of the £15,000 Davis thinks it is work in an article from June where he says he will sell it.
In full transparency, the auction should be titled "Rod Davis' banjo that he did not really play but that John Lennon might have played briefly when he broke a string on his guitar."
It's a plectrum banjo, not a 5 string............
quote:
Originally posted by RioStatIt's a plectrum banjo, not a 5 string............
Look carefully at the one crappy picture of the banjo and you will see the tunnel at the 5th fret and a tuning peg in the center of the peghead.
Easy to miss. I thought it was a 4 string banjo at first glance too.
Bob Smakula
quote:
Originally posted by Bob Smakulaquote:
Originally posted by RioStatIt's a plectrum banjo, not a 5 string............
Look carefully at the one crappy picture of the banjo and you will see the tunnel at the 5th fret and a tuning peg in the center of the peghead.
Easy to miss. I thought it was a 4 string banjo at first glance too.
Bob Smakula
I stand corrected Bob ! I see the tunnel and the 5th peg in the headstock, now.
Actually......it's hard to tell anything from those auction site photos !
Here's a MUCH better photo!
Why buy a "Maybe Lennon" banjo for one point five, when you can buy a print of this photo .
from ME, for $20 cash, USD?
(This was the performance where John was playing his Bart Reiter banjo, with the Sunday Funnies pasted up as the resonator).
His famous "PAPERBACK REITER...Reiter... Reiter"
Just like in the song.
$20 for that photoshop from Mike is still a better deal than this auction.
Most biographical info on Lennon say that banjo was his first instrument but it was probably a tenor. I've no idea if its whereabouts are known.
The Banjo in the photo is NOT the same as the Windsor banjo in the auction !
Am I missing something? The only banjo in any photo I can see is in Mr Gregory's post. Can't see a banjo in the auction photo?
How can I get a copy of that bluegrass Beatles picture?
quote:
Originally posted by jwoldHow can I get a copy of that bluegrass Beatles picture?
Got it...thanks!
Mike, you need to add Billy Preston on fiddle...that'll test your photoshop skills!
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