Hey yall.
First time posting on here, but I figured if anyone would know, it'd be here. I got this banjo from a pawn shop for cheap about a year ago. I knew it was old so I took a chance on it being all of my banjos are newer ones, an old one would be great to have. I was thinking based off the resonator hole pattern that it'd be a Stromberg Voisinet, but the star headstock makes me think it might be a Buckbee. The diamond inlays don't look original being there's dot inlays that look covered up on the 18th fret. It has 22 frets, a 10 7/8" head, and there's no company name or even numbers anywhere that I've seen, and I've spent hours looking for anything. I appreciate any help or info!
I have the photos attached
There is something about this banjo & peghead that seem to be European.
Pics of the inside & resonator may help.
Just perusing photos online I wonder if it could be a Stromberg Voisinet with an SS Stewart neck; just guessing (Stewart seems to use (a) stars and (b) 'extra' bumps in the headstock profile similar to yours)
@tdennis there's some pictures! If there's anything you want better pictures of I'll happily post them too!
quote:
Originally posted by aaronobleJust perusing photos online I wonder if it could be a Stromberg Voisinet with an SS Stewart neck; just guessing (Stewart seems to use (a) stars and (b) 'extra' bumps in the headstock profile similar to yours)
This neck has nothing to do with Stewart.
Here's pictures of the backside of the headstock. Obviously by the holes they aren't the original, and also gotta love the old Fender tuning peg on there too. Looks like the 5th string is a Grover so it's likely the only original tuning peg.
It was made by Kay. The high mounted flange suggests it was made in the fifties. The peghead is not a normal design but I have seen a few Kay banjos with similar shapes.
Here's an up close picture of where neck attaches. That black shim looks like it's not original. Makes it seem like it's a mismatched body and neck. Don't know how common that is to happen.
I have an inexpensive beginner type banjo that has that star on the peghead and on the back of it. No tone ring. Wonder if it's an import from China? Looks kind of like that one.
Looks to me like a pretty ordinary 50's-60's US-made Kay that has had some after-market modifications to the neck.
quote:
Originally posted by Dan GellertLooks to me like a pretty ordinary 50's-60's US-made Kay that has had some after-market modifications to the neck.
I'd have to agree with Dan. These were more common years ago. It has an American made look to it and someone has scrounged tuners to keep it working. Reed Martin told me, you rarely find nice banjos in the country, the money was in the cities. In the city you can have great finds but things like this banjo that are interesting and serviceable but not valuable. Most of what came out of the country was not valuable and some of it hardly serviceable.
One thing that I have been curious about, why do people think that a star decoration means something specific to a builder?
A star is not unique to any make of anything and is a pretty common decoration.
quote:
Originally posted by Joel HooksOne thing that I have been curious about, why do people think that a star decoration means something specific to a builder?
A star is not unique to any make of anything and is a pretty common decoration.
I'm not sure, but it's been happening for a long time. Vega and Stewart are the usual suspects.
quote:
Originally posted by LocalFriendlyCoalMinerHere's an up close picture of where neck attaches. That black shim looks like it's not original. Makes it seem like it's a mismatched body and neck. Don't know how common that is to happen.
Probably not a mismatch. When Kay started using the high mounted flange there was no support at the bottom of the heel so, instead of redesigning the metal neck adjuster to accommodate that, they just put a shim at the bottom. It was more cost effective since Kay was a lower priced instrument to begin with.
This is a US made Kay. There is no doubt. The curved shim is part of the Kay Neck Adjuster assembly and is original to the banjo—and every other Kay banjo made between 1931–1968 except the K5 ukulele. This 20 bracket cast flange was used for decades.
The inlays and non-Kluson tuners are not original.
The finish and bolt on armrest suggests that this was made when Valco owned the company shortly before the 1968 bankruptcy.
