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Jan 17, 2025 - 1:26:23 PM

pwilson

Argentina

3 posts since 1/30/2012

Hi all, 

This is my first post here. I am in Buenos Aires and I needed to get my banjo set up. I took it apart to pack it in a suitcase and couldn't get it back together. I found a very good (and likely only) banjo luthier in Buenos Aires and he's done a great job. My banjo has never played or sounded as good. To be fair: I bought it used from the son-in-law of the owner, and he'd taken it to a guitar repair place - my guess is they'd never seen a banjo before.

As part of the setup he gave me a new bridge, which he implied was a Snuffy Smith...

...but it doesn't have the SS-in-a-triangle/Superman logo.

Any opinion about whether this is in fact a Snuffy Smith bridge. Not a big deal either way - it wasn't very expensive and the banjo sounds great!

Thanks!

Edited by - pwilson on 01/17/2025 13:27:11

Jan 17, 2025 - 2:56:24 PM
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840 posts since 5/21/2020

Snuffy Smith bridges have a logo

Jan 17, 2025 - 8:08:17 PM
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kat eyz

USA

1195 posts since 10/1/2003

Hmm ? I would think that snuffy did not make that bridge but stranger things have happened I personally did not make it . The feet dont match up to any original vintage Snuffy bridge pattern i have ever seen . Also the plastic package says Ohio. Probably not a snuffy but if it sounds good play the fire out of it

Jan 18, 2025 - 5:23:58 AM

BobbyE

USA

3643 posts since 11/29/2007

I would think the chances of having an SS bridge that was not branded would be slim and none; even if one managed to slip out of the maker's shop without it. That would be a pretty hard thing to miss on final inspection. I can't think of a bridge maker that doesn't mark their product in some way.

Bobby

Jan 18, 2025 - 6:38:37 AM

pwilson

Argentina

3 posts since 1/30/2012

Thanks!

Jan 18, 2025 - 7:28:30 AM
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840 posts since 5/21/2020

If you acquired the bridge second hand it's probable that the previous owner fitted the SS bridge to his banjo and then placed this bridge from his banjo inside the packaging for safe keeping.

Jan 18, 2025 - 9:33:55 AM

15946 posts since 10/30/2008

That bridge is the wrong shape/outline for a Snuffy Smith. It should also have a noticeable angle back away from the perpendicular when stood on a flat surface.

It may be a perfectly fine, usable bridge, however. Even if not a Snuffy Smith.

Jan 20, 2025 - 4:38:56 PM

GStump

USA

621 posts since 9/12/2006

Someone may know the answer to this question, but I wouldn't be surprised if Snuffy perhaps did not mark the bridges he was making very early on, (or not all of them anyway) that is typical I think. Many folks who make banjo parts, at first simply did not realize they would continue doing so.... with the thought in mind that at first, they would build just a few here and there, or for friends or neighbors, or whatever..... but at some point the part actually caught on; so, and until, a bit later on, either they personally realized, or someone else mentioned to them that, "Hey, you need to start putting some sort of manufacturers mark or "something" on such and such a part to identify YOU as the maker!

Jan 20, 2025 - 5:02:35 PM

Corwyn

USA

1707 posts since 1/9/2006

quote:
Originally posted by GStump

Someone may know the answer to this question, but I wouldn't be surprised if Snuffy perhaps did not mark the bridges he was making very early on, (or not all of them anyway) that is typical I think. Many folks who make banjo parts, at first simply did not realize they would continue doing so.... with the thought in mind that at first, they would build just a few here and there, or for friends or neighbors, or whatever..... but at some point the part actually caught on; so, and until, a bit later on, either they personally realized, or someone else mentioned to them that, "Hey, you need to start putting some sort of manufacturers mark or "something" on such and such a part to identify YOU as the maker!


Even if so, how would the seller in Buenos Aires know that it was a Snuffy Smith bridge?  

And it was far enough into things, that there was printed literature for an incorporated company.  Not one of the first ones made.

Thank you kindly.

Jan 20, 2025 - 5:17:23 PM

pwilson

Argentina

3 posts since 1/30/2012

Corwyn wrt: "how would the seller in Buenos Aires know that it was a Snuffy Smith bridge?"

The seller in Buenos Aires is Roberto Garzoni, a true gent. He played professionally in NYC for 20 years and now sells, fixes and plays banjo in Buenos Aires. He also does house calls - picking up my banjo from my apartment and returning it, set up, a week later. Try finding that service in the US, for US$40

About the bridge - I wanted a new bridge, he sent me the photo of the bridge by the Snuffy Smith label and charged me an additional US$16, which would be cheap for such a bridge in the US. I mainly wanted to see if I got a bargain :)

But net is: Snuffy or not, I am very happy with Roberto's work and prices. Like I said, he's a real gent!

Jan 20, 2025 - 7:23:45 PM

GStump

USA

621 posts since 9/12/2006

A bit of misunderstanding in or to my post answer; I want to point out that I am not suggesting the pictured bridge shown by the original Poster is in fact a genuine Snuffy Bridge. As a matter of fact, I am inclined to think it is NOT. But I am pretty sure that the very first of nearly any banjo parts made by a small shop or single person may not have initially been marked with any insignia or Identification.

Jan 20, 2025 - 7:56:56 PM

Corwyn

USA

1707 posts since 1/9/2006

quote:
Originally posted by pwilson

Corwyn wrt: "how would the seller in Buenos Aires know that it was a Snuffy Smith bridge?"

The seller in Buenos Aires is Roberto Garzoni, a true gent. He played professionally in NYC for 20 years and now sells, fixes and plays banjo in Buenos Aires. He also does house calls - picking up my banjo from my apartment and returning it, set up, a week later. Try finding that service in the US, for US$40

About the bridge - I wanted a new bridge, he sent me the photo of the bridge by the Snuffy Smith label and charged me an additional US$16, which would be cheap for such a bridge in the US. I mainly wanted to see if I got a bargain :)

But net is: Snuffy or not, I am very happy with Roberto's work and prices. Like I said, he's a real gent!


I wasn't trying to imply otherwise.  My point was that without a label on the bridge itself, one bridge looks pretty much like another, and it would be hard to confirm identity.

Thank you kindly.

Jan 20, 2025 - 8:46:51 PM

kat eyz

USA

1195 posts since 10/1/2003

If the bridge in question actually came from the plastic bag under the bridge then its not an early Snuffy ...it clearly states "crafted by Smith Banjo Inc. Ohio." I think its an honest mistaken identity issue by Roberto because of the name Smith. However If the first line on the plastic bag had stated Snuffy Smith Style then there would be no conversation on the subject per say. Who ever put the words on the bag was a little sneaky in my humble opinion .

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