chubby

Of all the Bacon Professional banjos in my data base, I've never seen a internal resonator with single, round holes.

https://sugarinthegourd.com/BaconProfessionalBanjos/

I’m interested in knowing more thoughts about this banjo

Blaine

Certainly a one off. Certainly a beautiful instrument.

Looks to be all original. Looks to be all there, with some condition issues. With a little top professional restoration work, a banjo that falls into the grail category.

I absolutely love internal resonator Bacons. Had a few over the years. Have one now. Great instruments over all, and to some level, undervalued by today’s traditional players.

Like Carl above, I have never seen a Bacon with round holes in the internal resonator before.

7600 and change for the instrument….maybe worth it. If I had neo-oligarch deep pockets, would I spring for it? Absolutely yes.

Somebody got a very unique instrument, for I guess in today’s market, for a somewhat expensive, but I feel fair price considering what it is and its rarity.

Can’t wait to see whose hands it wound up in…

The finish on the back face of the resonator doesn't look like it matches particularly well, color-wise, so it may have been replaced at some point (which would explain the round holes). Impossible to say without seeing it in person. Everything else looks fairly original.

Here is a link that includes more photos. Proxibid seems to have taken all but one down now that the sale is over.

invaluable.com/auction-lot/bac...udPXzLVvH

Love it but not six grand worth!

My take is that the back plate of the internal resonator rim is a crude amateurish replacement - not anywhere near the quality of the early Vega made Bacon FFs.The wood and finish don’t match the rest of the rim, the patent stamp is missing, no Bacons have been reported with this configuration of large round holes although a few later non Vega Bacon tenors have been seen with clusters of small round holes. The usual binding and fancy marquetry strip found on other chubby dragon Bacons is missing as well along with the patent stamp.. There also may be problems with the dowel since I can’t see any of the normal stick graphics and serial number found on other chubbies. Maybe it’s just the poor photos. Perhaps the dowel was replaced along with the back plate. Note the damage visible where the missing neck adjuster would have been.
The neck itself shows great carving, excellent Consalvi engraved inlays, correct tuners, etc. Considering the deficiencies of the rim and stick I think the auction result was pioneering to say the least. Unmolested examples sell for just a few grand more than this example. Caveat Emptor springs to mind.

Yes l saw this and made a very low opening bid knowing that it would be far to expensive for me
I noticed the problems others have pointed out but the neck was so beautiful especially the dragon inlay +++
Maybe the dowel was repositioned upside down and this was responsible for the cracked heel and why you couldn't see any stampings ?
What brand of strings had red fluffy bits at the tailpiece ?
I have always listed after one of these rare dragon Bacon's and never thought one would ever become available
I wonder where it ended up

Gotta say - I LOVE the engraving on the headstock/rear and the heelcap. Carving also looks great. I personally like the IR holes but clearly looks unoriginal...Fun to see another one of these