Feeling nostalgic
Banjos from not too terribly long ago , rarely seen
RK 80
Rk 85
RK chief ( always meant to get one)
Goldstar, new or old , should have kept mine I liked it more than the Huber I got , should have kept the Goldstar
RK Bill Sullivan , should have got one during the fire sale
Sullivan deluxe festival, they come up but seldom
Ramsey; used to be always one for sale, Reuter too! Especially fretless, haven’t seen either in years
What am I missing
Edited by - Texasbanjo on 05/14/2025 08:16:54
I think you'd get more responses on this if it was in "other-banjo related".
It seems like older instruments don't show up for sale as often, even
though they're still out there. People have them for a while and get
attached. There should be RK-80s for sale, I think quite a few sold, but
I haven't seen one in a while. There used to be quite a few RK35s and
RK36s for sale but I don't see them as regularly. There's a used Ramsey
and a used RK-85 for sale through Guitar Center. The Ramsey seems to
have sold a couple of times and come back on their list.
Yes, didn’t have glasses on meant to post there
I meant pre 35/36
I’ll check out gc I know they had a Ramsey, with a big crack/delam in rim they didn’t address perhaps same one?
Yeah same Ramsey
Mods pls relocate as to you see fit
Edited by - the-fish on 05/14/2025 06:49:14
I moved it for you!
quote:
Originally posted by the-fishFeeling nostalgic
What am I missing
Stelling
I said rarely for sale, they are always for sale !
I’d add Bales to my list
quote:
Originally posted by the-fishI said rarely for sale, they are always for sale !
I’d add Bales to my list
Sorry I must have missed that.
Michael Allison/Leonard Coulson.
I used to visit Michael's shop in Providence and could have had one of his banjos for less than 1k in the 70s.
Rual Yarborough, Bob Rock, Gary Price, Tom George
Imperial
Liberty
Baldwin
Fitch don’t come up often, don’t think he had alot out there though
Edited by - the-fish on 05/14/2025 10:08:19
An old friend did the photo-lithography in that old Liberty catalog and got paid with a carved Liberty banjo.
Large eagle on the resonator with "rope" edges and carved heel.
One of the prettiest banjos I've ever seen.
John Wynn.
I have a Allison banjo, I have never seen another one, I know there must be some others out there. A great sounding beautiful banjo.
quote:
Originally posted by O.D.Imperial
Liberty
Baldwin
+1 for Liberty. I have only seen one live in Germany, incredible piece of art.
I have a Liberty archtop ring in one of my banjos, pot assembly from Dick Guggenheim.
Thanks Brian, I am honored to be mentioned . I'm still here making banjos, mostly openbacks, & banjo ukes & pineapple ukes, 11" Trap Door reproduction, lots of guitar repair, & furniture. I just finished a 12" openback for Valerie June.
Liberty, Imperial, old Baldwins, Strom, Stromberg, Orpheum, Epiphone, & all mentioned above, the list goes on & on, I can't remember them all.
Harry Lane - Should have grabbed one when I had the chance.
Kyle Creed - same as above…passed on one for 300 USD back in the day. !Dumb!!!!
Liberty and Arthur E Smith…used to pour over the dim paper catalogs when I was a teenager.
And last but not least…New and slightly used Gibsons…
GTR, Older Gold Star, Tokai, Lane, Epiphone, (Especially the ones actually made by Gibson right after they took over Epiphone, Like the EB 88.) Crafters of TN, Earlier CA made Stelling banjos, Allison, Price, Bales, Yates, Wyatt Fawley, (Remember the Fawleytone!?) Also from recording king - RK 87, RK 97, Osborne Scout, RK 50, TOO many to even mention or remember! Having said that - can't keep em' all, and how many banjos does a fellow (or girl) need? Proper answer - one more.....
Lane!!!
I was trying to remember him on my original post! Couldn’t recall name, never played one, heard many things about him and his banjos , think I recall one being for sale years ago
Beegee mentioned him frequently ( is he still around?)
I read somewhere that if Lane wasn’t 100% happy no matter how small the issue he would walk out back and throw in dumpster! Bit eccentric, no proof that I know of other than what I read
Wyatt was same way, small imperfection and he would trash it and start over
I'd echo those votes for Liberty and Ode banjos. Specifically the Liberty Quadrille and Ode model D. Here in the UK, even now it's difficult (and very expensive) to get hold of high-end banjos. Back when I first started in the 1970s, it was nigh-on impossible. I'd see ads in 'Bluegrass Unlimited' for these amazing banjos, but could never hope to play one.
I always thought the Ode D was a beautiful banjo, and of course heard it played on many recordings. Although the Quadrille was also beautiful, I never heard one. I hope they sound as good as they look..
Now that I've finally found my own 'dream' banjo (which itself is no longer made) I see there are two Ode Model Ds for sale in the UK!
quote:
Originally posted by O.D.Imperial
Liberty
Baldwin
liberty and baldwin made some fantastic banjos
quote:
Originally posted by GStumpGTR, Older Gold Star, Tokai, Lane, Epiphone, (Especially the ones actually made by Gibson right after they took over Epiphone, Like the EB 88.) Crafters of TN, Earlier CA made Stelling banjos, Allison, Price, Bales, Yates, Wyatt Fawley, (Remember the Fawleytone!?) Also from recording king - RK 87, RK 97, Osborne Scout, RK 50, TOO many to even mention or remember! Having said that - can't keep em' all, and how many banjos does a fellow (or girl) need? Proper answer - one more.....
my first banjo was one of the gibson epiphone banjos,, it was on the RB 100 style with dot inlay but had an aluminum tone ring until i changed it out,, then it sounded pretty good.
quote:
Originally posted by the-fishFeeling nostalgic
Banjos from not too terribly long ago , rarely seen
RK 80
Rk 85
RK chief ( always meant to get one)
Goldstar, new or old , should have kept mine I liked it more than the Huber I got , should have kept the Goldstar
RK Bill Sullivan , should have got one during the fire sale
Sullivan deluxe festival, they come up but seldom
Ramsey; used to be always one for sale, Reuter too! Especially fretless, haven’t seen either in years
What am I missing
I've just sold my RK 80 (rare even here). I replaced it with a 2005 Gold Star GF85 which I bought here (even rarer).
A friend of mine has a Ramsey (ordered especially). Have seen one Sullivan (I think) here quite some time ago.
Edited by - banjonz on 05/15/2025 17:07:55
quote:
Originally posted by TLGThanks Brian, I am honored to be mentioned . I'm still here making banjos, mostly openbacks, & banjo ukes & pineapple ukes, 11" Trap Door reproduction, lots of guitar repair, & furniture. I just finished a 12" openback for Valerie June.
Liberty, Imperial, old Baldwins, Strom, Stromberg, Orpheum, Epiphone, & all mentioned above, the list goes on & on, I can't remember them all.
Glad to hear it. As with some of the other top makers, yours do not hit the market often because I believe people don't part with them. This happens in the guitar world also where people wait for a long time for a Henderson guitar. Once you get one, it's not something you just trade around.
Framus. I hot-rodded mine and bought an identical one in case I ever need spare part. I've owned, and had access to, several really nice ones over the years but always keep coming back to my Fram for both 3-finger and clawhammer.
