5 String Banjo (unlabelled) , c. 1890
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Item # 12370
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5 String Banjo (unlabelled), c. 1890, origin unknown, natural varnish finish, spunover rim, mahogany neck, black chipboard case.
This is a nicely playable but very plain instrument, appearing to be a largely unaltered 38 hook spunover pot from the 1880s fitted with a heavily re-worked period neck. It is impossible to tell if these pieces came together or were married somewhere along the line; the dowel stick finish matches the rim but 140 or so years is a very long time! The pot is typical fare from the late 19th century, a thin spunover rim finished in black on the inside built with more hooks than strictly required (some catalog banjos were priced by the number of hooks!). The tailpiece is a later handmade wooden piece but the hooks and nuts appear period, if partially mismatched (some are longer than the rest).
The neck has an early 1880s style round heel with an undercut fingerboard but the thin-veneer dot-inlaid fingerboard, headstock veneer and finish are more recent. The fingerboard is a very thin veneer with the frets well cut through, the wire itself is quite old. The headstock has a similarly thin rosewood veneer with a 5-point star inlay, There is an old crack at the heel which is solidly repaired; the entire neck was finished over some time ago. Although not much of a showpiece this is a good playing banjo with a sweet and mellow sound, an excellent learner's instrument with an authentic character.
Overall length is 35 in. (88.9 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/8 in. (35 mm.).
The various parts of this instrument have survived the ages a bit differently; the rim shows a lot of wear and corrosion and appears to be in largely original condition. Some hooks and nuts are of slightly variant lengths but all but one appear to be from the same era. The wooden tailpiece is newer. The neck finish has some light wear and appears to be more recent than the rim. The neck is secured to the rim by two more recent screws on wither side, with another other old screw hole patched in the center of the rim below the heel. The banjo is fitted out with an older skin head, a recent maple bridge and Nylon strings. The neck is nice and straight and the instrument plays well in this low-tension mode, a nice starter or knock-around instrument with a lot of vintage character. Very Good + Condition.
This is a nicely playable but very plain instrument, appearing to be a largely unaltered 38 hook spunover pot from the 1880s fitted with a heavily re-worked period neck. It is impossible to tell if these pieces came together or were married somewhere along the line; the dowel stick finish matches the rim but 140 or so years is a very long time! The pot is typical fare from the late 19th century, a thin spunover rim finished in black on the inside built with more hooks than strictly required (some catalog banjos were priced by the number of hooks!). The tailpiece is a later handmade wooden piece but the hooks and nuts appear period, if partially mismatched (some are longer than the rest).
The neck has an early 1880s style round heel with an undercut fingerboard but the thin-veneer dot-inlaid fingerboard, headstock veneer and finish are more recent. The fingerboard is a very thin veneer with the frets well cut through, the wire itself is quite old. The headstock has a similarly thin rosewood veneer with a 5-point star inlay, There is an old crack at the heel which is solidly repaired; the entire neck was finished over some time ago. Although not much of a showpiece this is a good playing banjo with a sweet and mellow sound, an excellent learner's instrument with an authentic character.
Overall length is 35 in. (88.9 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/8 in. (35 mm.).
The various parts of this instrument have survived the ages a bit differently; the rim shows a lot of wear and corrosion and appears to be in largely original condition. Some hooks and nuts are of slightly variant lengths but all but one appear to be from the same era. The wooden tailpiece is newer. The neck finish has some light wear and appears to be more recent than the rim. The neck is secured to the rim by two more recent screws on wither side, with another other old screw hole patched in the center of the rim below the heel. The banjo is fitted out with an older skin head, a recent maple bridge and Nylon strings. The neck is nice and straight and the instrument plays well in this low-tension mode, a nice starter or knock-around instrument with a lot of vintage character. Very Good + Condition.