{"product_id":"bacon-day-silver-bell-1-guitar-banjo-1927-5623","title":"Bacon \u0026 Day Silver Bell #1 Guitar Banjo (1927)","description":"Bacon \u0026amp; Day Silver Bell #1 Model Guitar Banjo (1927), made in Groton CT, serial # 18749, shaded maple finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a rare and beautiful Bacon \u0026amp; Day instrument -the Silver Bell #1 Banjo-Guitar. Although listed as a special-order catalog item, not many of these striking six-string banjos were made and they are rarely seen today. This substantial-feeling banjo carries the full Silver Bell appointments with the deep F hole flange and fancy shaped pearl inlay on the headstock face and fingerboard. There are multiple ebony\/maple laminates to neck, heel and head, bound heavy ebony fingerboard and resonator rim. The tone ring still has the early-style perforations to the sheath under the head, but no holes drilled through the ring-an odd transitional feature. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis example also has unusual original Grover patent geared tuners that are not one of the familiar styles (with a spike and oblong casing) and an older 6-string tailpiece. There was never a mute system on this fairly early example. The very thick neck has a comfortable round profile, the banjo plays very well. The Silver Bell is certainly one of the finest banjo-guitars ever made, good for a variety of applications and especially useful for playing in the Modern Dance Orchestra�ca. 1929!\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 35 1\/8 in. (89.2 cm.), 11 5\/8 in. (29.5 cm.) diameter head, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7\/8 in. (48 mm.). Some general wear, most notably capo scrapes on the back of the neck behind the first fret. Appears all original except the tailpiece, which is an older 6-string banjo model that has been modified to accept ball-end strings. Set up with a translucent frosted weathering head, very powerful sound. Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Bacon \u0026 Day","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853314543756,"sku":"5623","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_6f5f7862-ceb6-4ded-b84e-398e0643f9b2.jpg?v=1774334271","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/bacon-day-silver-bell-1-guitar-banjo-1927-5623","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}