What is the difference between the Bacon Banjo Sultana, Serenader, Senorita, and Montana compared to the regular Silver Bells?
Also, what is the order of value of the above 4 types?
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Bacon!
I believe the differences are all cosmetic. Bacon took the same construction and found a hundred different ways to decorate it.
quote:
Originally posted by OldFretsI believe the differences are all cosmetic. Bacon took the same construction and found a hundred different ways to decorate it.
Not just. I'm sure a Bacon expert will pop in eventually. As far as I know, the Montana was very similar to the Silver Bell series, with a different aesthetic. I believe (but don't know) the Sultana originally was similar. But the others are definitely lower-grade, with different tone rings, resonators, and so on. And of course the specs may have changed through the years.
Senoritas were low end models and did not have the “silver bell” tone ring. Montanas, Sultanas and Serenaders were variant “Silver Bell” models.
Edited by - jims38134 on 05/26/2025 10:15:55
And there were three Silver Bell rings—depending in the year.
I missed that the Senorita was in the list - yes, that was a cheaper banjo without the Silver Bell tone ring. But anything that said "Silver Bell" on it had a similar rim, within the same time period.
Here's a comparison of my '27-ish #1 Silver Bell plectrum and my '31-ish Sultana Silver Bell tenor. Both have the same Silver Bell tone ring and rim, but note the slightly enhanced flange on the Sultana which adds a tad more depth and supposedly more volume? I've temporarily switched out out the Oettinger t/p on the Sultana for a Kerschner, which also can serve as a pick holder. I prefer the simpler and in my opinion the more tasteful look of the plectrum, as the "glitz" of the Sultana was there for visual effect only.
Edited by - mainejohn on 05/30/2025 07:02:15
Comparing the two, it's true that the flange of the Sultana is larger. I didn't know that. Thank you. Also, it seems that the sound is basically the same for all of them, and it's just a matter of whether the design is luxurious or not. I like the design of the Sultana.
