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Jul 1, 2026 - 7:46:19 AM
6 posts since 7/28/2013

I have a banjo- mandolin that appears to be old. It has a 10” head and approximately a 14” string length. It has no name or serial number, but appears to be substantially constructed. Any clues to what this is?


Jul 1, 2026 - 7:55:45 AM
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16582 posts since 10/30/2008

No idea who made it, but it sure looks playable if the head is tight (and not broken underneath the stretcher band). You've got your tailpiece, bridge and tuners. Lubricate the tuners a bit with some lithium grease and throw a set of strings on it! See what happens.

Jul 1, 2026 - 9:04:01 AM
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6 posts since 7/28/2013

Thanks for the info. It does have a good tailpiece and tight head. The neck needs a bit of adjusting but otherwise a solid instrument.

Jul 1, 2026 - 9:33:19 AM

6908 posts since 5/29/2011

My best educated guess is that this was made by Slingerland. The crumbling rim cap looks like a Harmony feature, but I'm pretty sure this was Slingerland judging from the rim veneer and the bracket shoes.

Jul 1, 2026 - 9:42:47 AM

6 posts since 7/28/2013

Any idea as to approximate date or value? I would expect not much. Thanks!

Jul 1, 2026 - 2:58:29 PM
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1078 posts since 5/29/2015
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The tuners are pretty 1925. If they are stiff they can often be improved by removing them. Then wash the gear assemblies with naptha or electronic contact cleaner. Repeat. Then lubricate with a drying oil like Tri-Flo. With all these steps repeated spinning of each tuner is important.

Jul 1, 2026 - 4:32:04 PM
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562 posts since 9/5/2013

I've always thought the banjo-mando is an underappreciated instrument.
It works well in Irish trad, American old-time, and especially jug-band ragtime/blues.

Jul 1, 2026 - 4:38:54 PM

6 posts since 7/28/2013

Thank you for your thoughts.

Jul 1, 2026 - 6:30:23 PM

3806 posts since 3/30/2008

A close-up of the neck brace can often identify the maker. I feel this instrument has yet to be identified.

Jul 1, 2026 - 7:57:59 PM

3806 posts since 3/30/2008

The peghead shape, tuners, heel cap shape & number of hooks seem to point in a direction not related to Slingerland. What is the diameter of the head ?

Jul 2, 2026 - 2:28:55 AM

6 posts since 7/28/2013

It’s a 10 inch head.

Jul 2, 2026 - 9:39:04 PM

3806 posts since 3/30/2008

I've had several Slingerland mandolin banjos over the years & they all had 20 tension hooks & a 10 3/4 " head. Certain brands tended to use a specific neck brace, (Oscar Schmidt, Gretch, Lange, Slingerland etc.) A pic of this part may help to identify, date & valuate your instrument.

Jul 3, 2026 - 7:03:46 PM

13840 posts since 10/27/2006

The Waverly tailpiece is no help in identification. Nearly everyone used it on lower end mandolins and banjos including Gibson. Vega used it on their mandolin banjos.

Jul 8, 2026 - 11:55:10 AM

2908 posts since 2/9/2007

Remember-- A banjo works best with much lower string tension than you'd put on a wood soundboard. GHS brand "ultra-light" A240 (the lightest mandolin set commonly available in the US) is about as heavy as I'd put on a mando-banjo. Elderly sells a custom set for MB that's way lighter than those!

Even with the lightest strings, 8 of them can be a strain on an instrument as lightly-built as yours. You might want to try using just 4.

Jul 8, 2026 - 12:49:30 PM

6 posts since 7/28/2013

Thanks for the good info! I’ll try that.

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