Bob Flesher 5 String Banjo , c. 1990s
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Item # 11601
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Bob Flesher 5 String Banjo, c. 1990s, serial # 140, natural finish, laminated maple rim, maple neck with ebony fingerboard, tweed hard shell case.
Bob Flesher passed away in 2022 having spent a lifetime in the world of banjos, playing, building, educating and generally doing good things for banjo and banjo players. Flesher was co-creator and partner at Liberty Banjo Company from 1970-1986 involved in design, creation, custom inlay, metal engraving, pearl engraving and wood carving, all the while working as a commercial jet pilot for Eastern Air Lines. In 1964-5 he even played banjo with the Good Time Singers on the Andy William Show! He went into business as a hand builder in 1991 and built custom banjos for discerning players over the ensuing decades.
This banjo is a lovely frailer, plainer than many Fleshers (he was an inlay and engraving specialist) but beautifully made just the same. The fairly thin (3/8") rim is deeper than many, with nice figured maple on the inside and outside, capped in dark wood with half-herringbone trim. The one-piece neck is fantastic tiger maple with a heavy dot-inlaid ebony fingerboard with 16 frets and a frailing scoop. The headstock is capped on both sides with a lovely pearl inlay on the face, beautifully executed in Bob's signature style. The dowel is marked "Custom Built by Bob flesher" with serial #140. The tuners are geared planets, all the hardware is good quality. This is an excellent instrument in the old time style with a powerful and deep sound, beautifully made; a great sounding instrument and a bargain in a high quality banjo of this type.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 12 in. (30.5 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/4 in. (667 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This banjo shows some light wear (mostly to the head) but does not appear to have been played all that much. The finish has some handling wear and the plating light clouding, there is some rubbing to the head frosting. It plays and sounds great, a testament to the skill and experience of this comparatively unsung master builder. Overall Excellent Condition.
Bob Flesher passed away in 2022 having spent a lifetime in the world of banjos, playing, building, educating and generally doing good things for banjo and banjo players. Flesher was co-creator and partner at Liberty Banjo Company from 1970-1986 involved in design, creation, custom inlay, metal engraving, pearl engraving and wood carving, all the while working as a commercial jet pilot for Eastern Air Lines. In 1964-5 he even played banjo with the Good Time Singers on the Andy William Show! He went into business as a hand builder in 1991 and built custom banjos for discerning players over the ensuing decades.
This banjo is a lovely frailer, plainer than many Fleshers (he was an inlay and engraving specialist) but beautifully made just the same. The fairly thin (3/8") rim is deeper than many, with nice figured maple on the inside and outside, capped in dark wood with half-herringbone trim. The one-piece neck is fantastic tiger maple with a heavy dot-inlaid ebony fingerboard with 16 frets and a frailing scoop. The headstock is capped on both sides with a lovely pearl inlay on the face, beautifully executed in Bob's signature style. The dowel is marked "Custom Built by Bob flesher" with serial #140. The tuners are geared planets, all the hardware is good quality. This is an excellent instrument in the old time style with a powerful and deep sound, beautifully made; a great sounding instrument and a bargain in a high quality banjo of this type.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 12 in. (30.5 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/4 in. (667 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This banjo shows some light wear (mostly to the head) but does not appear to have been played all that much. The finish has some handling wear and the plating light clouding, there is some rubbing to the head frosting. It plays and sounds great, a testament to the skill and experience of this comparatively unsung master builder. Overall Excellent Condition.