Weymann Orchestra Style 4 Tenor Banjo (1928)
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Item # 8404
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Weymann Orchestra Style 4 Model Tenor Banjo (1928), made in Philadelphia, serial # 44764, natural varnish finish, rosewood neck, rim and resonator; rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
The Style 4 Orchestra model was one of the top banjos in Weymann's professional "Megaphonic" line, a superb high quality instrument retailing originally in 1928 at the then fantastic sum of $320.00. It features the company's patented megaphonic rim with the hooks running through it, the most elegant of all 1920s banjo designs. Like all Weymann banjos, this is an extremely finely made instrument with the company's customary attention to detail evident.
The Style 4 is a VERY fancy banjo, even by the standards of the day. Made with rosewood, ebony, and pearl, it is somewhat more tasteful than many with a distinct lack of pearloid or other overtly gaudy touches. The neck is laminated from solid rosewood with multiple colored wood laminations in the center and fingerboard underlays. The triple-bound ebony fingerboard is inlaid with fancy shaped pearl pieces in a continuous vine pattern. The headstock overlay carries a "Weymann" logo of inlaid pearl letters with an elaborate floral design, and there is a gold Weymann logo sticker on the back. It mounts the company's elegant patented recessed tuning pegs, gold-plated with real pearl buttons. The heel is carved in a fairly simple pattern.
All hardware is gold-plated and the hoop, tone ring sheath, and tailpiece heavily engraved. The rim and resonator are solid rosewood with multiple binding on every edge. The rim top has inlaid pearl in a floral pattern and there is elaborate wood marquetry around the outer resonator side wall. This banjo has a perforated stamped metal flange capping the top rim of the resonator, which is a standard feature on later Megaphonic models. There is a natural rosewood armrest mounted to the hoop, another stylish unique Weymann feature. Overall this is a great sounding and superbly classy tenor banjo in the 1920s or today!
Overall length is 34 in. (86.4 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 in. (559 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
This banjo has seen some serious use and has quite a bit of wear, but remains in unaltered original condition. The gold plating shows variable wear; the hoop, hooks, and tone ring have held up pretty well, but nearly all the gold is gone from the flange and tailpiece.
The finish on the resonator back has considerable wear; the back of the neck is better preserved with dome dings and dents. One of the tuners shows signs of being repaired, and has more plating loss than the rest but all work well. The frets show some divoting under the unwound strings in the lower positions but the banjo plays well and sounds great. Very Good + Condition.
The Style 4 Orchestra model was one of the top banjos in Weymann's professional "Megaphonic" line, a superb high quality instrument retailing originally in 1928 at the then fantastic sum of $320.00. It features the company's patented megaphonic rim with the hooks running through it, the most elegant of all 1920s banjo designs. Like all Weymann banjos, this is an extremely finely made instrument with the company's customary attention to detail evident.
The Style 4 is a VERY fancy banjo, even by the standards of the day. Made with rosewood, ebony, and pearl, it is somewhat more tasteful than many with a distinct lack of pearloid or other overtly gaudy touches. The neck is laminated from solid rosewood with multiple colored wood laminations in the center and fingerboard underlays. The triple-bound ebony fingerboard is inlaid with fancy shaped pearl pieces in a continuous vine pattern. The headstock overlay carries a "Weymann" logo of inlaid pearl letters with an elaborate floral design, and there is a gold Weymann logo sticker on the back. It mounts the company's elegant patented recessed tuning pegs, gold-plated with real pearl buttons. The heel is carved in a fairly simple pattern.
All hardware is gold-plated and the hoop, tone ring sheath, and tailpiece heavily engraved. The rim and resonator are solid rosewood with multiple binding on every edge. The rim top has inlaid pearl in a floral pattern and there is elaborate wood marquetry around the outer resonator side wall. This banjo has a perforated stamped metal flange capping the top rim of the resonator, which is a standard feature on later Megaphonic models. There is a natural rosewood armrest mounted to the hoop, another stylish unique Weymann feature. Overall this is a great sounding and superbly classy tenor banjo in the 1920s or today!
Overall length is 34 in. (86.4 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 in. (559 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
This banjo has seen some serious use and has quite a bit of wear, but remains in unaltered original condition. The gold plating shows variable wear; the hoop, hooks, and tone ring have held up pretty well, but nearly all the gold is gone from the flange and tailpiece.
The finish on the resonator back has considerable wear; the back of the neck is better preserved with dome dings and dents. One of the tuners shows signs of being repaired, and has more plating loss than the rest but all work well. The frets show some divoting under the unwound strings in the lower positions but the banjo plays well and sounds great. Very Good + Condition.