Howdy, y'all.
I got a tenor banjo recently that doesn't have any easy ways to identify what year and make it is.
The head stock was painted over and the truss rod was replaced, so I'm hoping the experts (you) can lend a hand.
Thank you!
(Added photos)
Edited by - T_Shelly on 10/18/2026 15:38:28
quote:
Originally posted by T_ShellyHowdy, y'all.
I got a tenor banjo recently that doesn't have any easy ways to identify what year and make it is.
The head stock was painted over and the truss rod was replaced, so I'm hoping the experts (you) can lend a hand.
Thank you!
Your description gives absolutely no clue as to anything. You will need to post close up photos of it for an ID.
Oh, and by the way, Welcome to the Hangout.
Edited by - banjonz on 10/18/2026 14:59:26
You know, that would be helpful. Sorry about that. Just added them to the top post.
Edited by - T_Shelly on 10/18/2026 15:39:21
Stromberg-Voisinet from the mid to late 1920's. S-V was renamed Kay in 1931.
Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstruments.com
I have the exact same banjo. Mine came with some cheap label (Howard?) glued onto the headstock. Peeling it off, it seems like the headstock was blank to begin with. I'm not sure what you mean about the truss rod being replaced, these do not have a truss rod. It just looks like someone patched some damage in the area behind the nut.
I don't know what else to call the wooden rod inside the resonator.
A quickie Google says it's called a coordinator rod.
A banjo player I know thought that because there wasn't any factory labels or serial numbers on the coordinator rod meant that it'd been replaced.
Edited by - T_Shelly on 10/21/2026 20:13:49
quote:
Originally posted by T_ShellyI don't know what else to call the wooden rod inside the resonator.
A quickie Google says it's called a coordinator rod.A banjo player I know thought that because there wasn't any factory labels or serial numbers on the coordinator rod meant that it'd been replaced.
It's called a 'dowel stick' (or a 'perch pole' if you are a British traditionalist). A coordinator rod is an adjustable metal alternative. It's lack of stamps just means the manufacturer didn't choose to stamp that make/model.
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