Bro. Take some pics.

Likely. There’s no trade in fake Paramounts.

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Originally posted by gazzabluesman

Hi all, about 7 years ago I bought a 1928 Style A 5 string paramount banjo. I’m quite sure it could be a genuine factory built 5 string, but I’m sure you guys (and gals) might know for sure
Why I think it’s genuine
Same serial number stamped in rim and neck inside - 11526 , which dates it at 1928
5th string peg is the same style, aging if metal and cream peg, screw connecting it etc
The binding on neck near and around the 5th string peg is seamless and doesn’t look like it’s been altered or changed
It has 22 frets, all looking the same age, material
Grain on back of neck all looks genuine and original
What you reckon? I think it’s genuine

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Have uploaded 3 pics now 

btw they are Page tuners

Does it look like this one found in a quick Google search. reverb.com/item/8362228-paramo...hell-case

Like Bill said, authenticity is almost a given. No market for fakes.

BTW, it looks just like mine. They are rare...just not popular. I keep mine strung with nylon.

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Originally posted by Bill Rogers

Likely. There’s no trade in fake Paramounts.

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No, but the vast majority of Paramount 5-strings are conversions.

quote:

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Originally posted by gazzabluesman

quote:

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Originally posted by gazzabluesman

Hi all, about 7 years ago I bought a 1928 Style A 5 string paramount banjo. I’m quite sure it could be a genuine factory built 5 string, but I’m sure you guys (and gals) might know for sure
Why I think it’s genuine
Same serial number stamped in rim and neck inside - 11526 , which dates it at 1928
5th string peg is the same style, aging if metal and cream peg, screw connecting it etc
The binding on neck near and around the 5th string peg is seamless and doesn’t look like it’s been altered or changed
It has 22 frets, all looking the same age, material
Grain on back of neck all looks genuine and original
What you reckon? I think it’s genuine

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Have uploaded 3 pics now 

btw they are Page tuners

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You need to upload more and better photos, including photos of the dowel stick. The 5th string tuner is a modern replacement with an old button attached. The Page turners are correct but could have been swapped over from an original tenor or plectrum neck. It could be an original 5 string neck, but you'll have to give us more to work with.

The three photos you posted raise a couple of red flags besides the replaced 5th string tuner. The neck laminations and volute don't look quite right to me, and the frets are not original (note also how the fretwork was done, particularly the fret ends - this looks like a modern job to me. Frets can be replaced, though, so we need more photos of the neck, dowel, and the rest of the banjo).

I agree with John. The dark wood in the lamination is thinner than found on the Paramounts that I have in hand or pictures of. The volute looks more like Gretsch than Paramount.

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

Does it look like this one found in a quick Google search. reverb.com/item/8362228-paramo...hell-case

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I would say it looks exactly the same as that. One thing that makes me double believe it's an original built to be a 5 string neck, is that like the one in the link you , the centre stripe is dead  centre on the headstock down to 5th fret and then slightly off centre from 5th string onwards. If it was a conversion from a plectrum , it would be the other way I.e. central from 6th down and off where the neck may have then be thinned??  That's my logic being a scientist??

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Originally posted by trapdoor2

Like Bill said, authenticity is almost a given. No market for fakes.

BTW, it looks just like mine. They are rare...just not popular. I keep mine strung with nylon.

Thx for reply mate.  I string mine with nylgut strings, love the more mellow tone 

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See attached for pix of my Style A 5-string.

As I recall, Leo Coulson of Intermountain Guitar and Banjo made a few 5-string conversions for Style As, mostly using tenors with cracked heels (a known problem with Paramounts).

I see the laminate width difference...and that my stripe isn't centered on the headstock.

I think my frets are original, they're very worn...but still playable!

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Originally posted by gazzabluesman

quote:

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

Does it look like this one found in a quick Google search. reverb.com/item/8362228-paramo...hell-case

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I would say it looks exactly the same as that. One thing that makes me double believe it's an original built to be a 5 string neck, is that like the one in the link you , the centre stripe is dead  centre on the headstock down to 5th fret and then slightly off centre from 5th string onwards. If it was a conversion from a plectrum , it would be the other way I.e. central from 6th down and off where the neck may have then be thinned??  That's my logic being a scientist??

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There are many Paramount conversion necks that are really well done. I've handled numerous original 5-string Paramounts of different grades (multiple A's, a B, a C, an E, and an F), and I've seen many more conversions. I'd like to help you, but you'll need to provide more (and better) photos.

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Originally posted by trapdoor2

See attached for pix of my Style A 5-string.

As I recall, Leo Coulson of Intermountain Guitar and Banjo made a few 5-string conversions for Style As, mostly using tenors with cracked heels (a known problem with Paramounts).

I see the laminate width difference...and that my stripe isn't centered on the headstock.

I think my frets are original, they're very worn...but still playable!

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Also note that your A, like every A I've seen, has a rosewood fingerboard. The original poster's banjo appears to have an ebony fingerboard. That, plus the wide volute, the unusual laminations (there are some A's with thinner laminations, but these particular ones look off to me), the Phillips head screws attaching the Page tuners, and the modern fifth string peg lead me to believe that the neck in question is likely a reproduction.

Marc Smith, there's a significant difference in location of the 5th peg hole on your photo and the OP's photo. Your 5th peg hole is quite close to the 5th fret. His 5th peg hole is back by the 4th fret. I have no idea which is "original".

Your photo shows a significant "jog" in the shape of the fingerboard behind the 5th fret. The OP's photo isn't face on, but it seems to show a much much gradual sort of "taper" behind the 5th fret.

Just observations.

Marc's is original. Note also how the pip on Marc's banjo is in line with the fret.

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

Marc Smith, there's a significant difference in location of the 5th peg hole on your photo and the OP's photo. Your 5th peg hole is quite close to the 5th fret. His 5th peg hole is back by the 4th fret. I have no idea which is "original".

Your photo shows a significant "jog" in the shape of the fingerboard behind the 5th fret. The OP's photo isn't face on, but it seems to show a much much gradual sort of "taper" behind the 5th fret.

Just observations.

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Yes, well spotted. The modern 5th peg begs to be set back somewhat from the 5th fret. The old non-geared type were set much closer to the 5th fret.

If you could feel the neck on mine, you would comment on the sharp edges where the laminates have shrunk over 100yrs.

The tapered 5th string transition is another fairly modern trend.

I'm now more convinced that the OP has a nice repro.

I would guess that Paramount didn't make many 5 string necks back in the day. There would be lots of subtle differences between them. My vote is this is the real deal. I have owned a tenor and a plectrum. They may have been great banjos once .. but my observation is that they didn't have the same high volume production values that Gibson or Vega used.

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Originally posted by eljimb0

I would guess that Paramount didn't make many 5 string necks back in the day. There would be lots of subtle differences between them. My vote is this is the real deal. I have owned a tenor and a plectrum. They may have been great banjos once .. but my observation is that they didn't have the same high volume production values that Gibson or Vega used.

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They're rare, but they made more than you might think. I don't agree with your baseless theory that there are lots of subtle differences between them. The specs changed a little over time, but this was also true of the tenors and plectrums. Those changes are well-known to collectors. The original poster's banjo likely has a well-made conversion neck, but for the umpteenth time, we need more photos to say for certain. 

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Originally posted by gazzabluesman

quote:

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

Does it look like this one found in a quick Google search. reverb.com/item/8362228-paramo...hell-case

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I would say it looks exactly the same as that. One thing that makes me double believe it's an original built to be a 5 string neck, is that like the one in the link you , the centre stripe is dead  centre on the headstock down to 5th fret and then slightly off centre from 5th string onwards. If it was a conversion from a plectrum , it would be the other way I.e. central from 6th down and off where the neck may have then be thinned??  That's my logic being a scientist??

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"Conversion" to five string takes multiple forms. What you are describing- cutting a plectrum neck down to five string configuration- is pretty rare, because it doesn't work well at all. People find this out once they've done it and end up with an offf-center peghead and an uncomfortably narrow neck. 

Making and installing a new five string neck from scratch is much more common, and, depending on the level of craftsmanship, can be hard to detect. 

As John says, post more photos.

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Originally posted by eljimb0

I would guess that Paramount didn't make many 5 string necks back in the day. There would be lots of subtle differences between them. My vote is this is the real deal. I have owned a tenor and a plectrum. They may have been great banjos once .. but my observation is that they didn't have the same high volume production values that Gibson or Vega used.

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This is a strange theory considering that William Lange was a noted 5 string banjoist in the "classic" style.  He clearly had his act together regarding 5 string banjos. 

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Originally posted by Joel Hooks

quote:

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Originally posted by eljimb0

I would guess that Paramount didn't make many 5 string necks back in the day. There would be lots of subtle differences between them. My vote is this is the real deal. I have owned a tenor and a plectrum. They may have been great banjos once .. but my observation is that they didn't have the same high volume production values that Gibson or Vega used.

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This is a strange theory considering that William Lange was a noted 5 string banjoist in the "classic" style.  He clearly had his act together regarding 5 string banjos. 

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His observation about "high volume production values" is also strange. Paramount outsold Gibson by a wide margin, was more innovative than Gibson, and built higher quality instruments than Gibson. 

Not to mention the fact that Lange was making banjos before 4 string banjos existed by huge numbers under his own R&L brand and countless private labels. 

He also composed for regular 5 string banjo.

quote:

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Originally posted by eljimb0

I would guess that Paramount didn't make many 5 string necks back in the day. There would be lots of subtle differences between them. My vote is this is the real deal. I have owned a tenor and a plectrum. They may have been great banjos once .. but my observation is that they didn't have the same high volume production values that Gibson or Vega used.

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I've handled well over 100 Paramount tenor banjos in the past 10 years and they were pretty consistent. There might be subtle differences in the builds, but not major differences. The OP's banjo neck shows major differences to many experts here and that is just from a few pictures. I think more pictures would show even more proof that it is not original.