Most importantly what is the pot. The neck and resonator are from a Luna but the pot appears to be vintage with a tubaphone tone ring. There's not a lot of good evidence so wild guesses will be appreciated as much as good guesses.
ebay.co.uk/itm/256742827369
how can you tell it has a tubaphone ring ?
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Originally posted by gbisignanihow can you tell it has a tubaphone ring ?
On one of the pictures there's a metal ring with closley spaced holes on the inside of the banjo. And that's the typical style for a tubaphone. However I used the word "appears" in case there is something else I haven't come across.
Gold Tone offers a tubaphone type ring, so a China MFG is producing them, it is not reach that other private label banjos would use them.
I can see what looks like a tubaphone tone ring. There have been some interesting goings on on uk ebay lately, the nice 12 inch fretless I wish I had bid on, the Howsons banjo with no pictures of the actual banjo, £450 for either a Clipper wl or a Gold tone cc or £200 for zither with a plaque on it. Hubers, Libery, Ode, Slingerland May bell.
Cheesy hooks. Might make a decent openback. I don’t know the UK market and availability, but the price seems a tad high for what it is.
I'm not real familiar with British banjos, but have seen a few with Vega-style tone rings. That could be what the rim started out as, but the rest of the hardware (hooks, shoes, "flange" segments, maybe the tension hoop) is assorted recent cheap Chinese stuff. Most of it (and the resonator) most likely came off the same bottom-grade Luna as the neck.
If it's put together well, it could be a decent player, but it's not what I'd call a bluegrass banjo, and (to repeat myself) it's made mostly of really cheap parts. I'd think a sane asking price would be about half of that number, and it might need to go a a good bit lower than that before it sells.
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Originally posted by Dan Gellertbut the rest of the hardware (hooks, shoes, "flange" segments, maybe the tension hoop) is assorted recent cheap Chinese stuff.
It's the flange segments that really look vintage to me. I've only seen them on much older banjos. The tailpiece is also looking fairly old.
Edited by - GrahamHawker on 12/09/2024 00:28:32
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Originally posted by Joel HooksGold Tone offers a tubaphone type ring, so a China MFG is producing them, it is not reach that other private label banjos would use them.
There is a Chinese made tubaphone tone ring that is available in the UK. I bought one for a parts banjo I put together. I guess this could be the same.
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Originally posted by GrahamHawkerquote:
Originally posted by Dan Gellertbut the rest of the hardware (hooks, shoes, "flange" segments, maybe the tension hoop) is assorted recent cheap Chinese stuff.
It's the flange segments that really look vintage to me. I've only seen them on much older banjos. The tailpiece is also looking fairly old.
Both look to me like ones currently in the Golden Gate (Saga) parts catalog, though they have been available for many years, so may not be new. I think both were OE on the earliest Saga DIY banjo kits...
Those are the cheapest of the cheap hooks. Only used on the cheapest of banjos. And what up with the nut? An extra slot?
How about asking the seller to remove the resonator and take some closeups of the inside and outside of the pot?
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Originally posted by Dan GellertHow about asking the seller to remove the resonator and take some closeups of the inside and outside of the pot?
I don't want to give them the idea I might be too interested! Now I can see that the hooks are cheap and typical of the cheap Luna banjos (I have one of these but not this one) it seems clear enough that it is one of these to which someone has added a tone ring, an older tailpiece and some flange plates. And it really isn't a Vega pot with a different neck and resonator added!!!!
I could see right away that it is NOT a Vega pot, and now see that my initial thought that it could be an older Tubaphone knockoff was fancifully optimistic. What are the chances that somebody back when made a decent Tubie pot with identical number and spacing of hooks as that particular XXIc. Luna cheapie?
Think the bottom has fallen out the Luna Banjo market. Reduced 3 times in as many days. Has someone said something?
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Originally posted by JSB88Think the bottom has fallen out the Luna Banjo market. Reduced 3 times in as many days. Has someone said something?
They had listed a number of banjos at inflated prices. Assuming it's the tubaphone ring sold by Stentor that is £180 new. The Hondo they listed is now £275 which is good for a Samick made flathead tone ring banjo.
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Originally posted by GrahamHawkerquote:
Originally posted by JSB88Think the bottom has fallen out the Luna Banjo market. Reduced 3 times in as many days. Has someone said something?
They had listed a number of banjos at inflated prices. Assuming it's the tubaphone ring sold by Stentor that is £180 new. The Hondo they listed is now £275 which is good for a Samick made flathead tone ring banjo.
Both the Luna & Hondo are a bit ostentatious, although I can't help liking the hearts & diamonds etc fret markers. That clear head with interior design leaves me cold.
quote:
Originally posted by GrahamHawkerquote:
Originally posted by JSB88Think the bottom has fallen out the Luna Banjo market. Reduced 3 times in as many days. Has someone said something?
They had listed a number of banjos at inflated prices. Assuming it's the tubaphone ring sold by Stentor that is £180 new. The Hondo they listed is now £275 which is good for a Samick made flathead tone ring banjo.
The seller knows very little of the banjo market and is just selling off a deceased relatives banjos.
