Bacon & Day Silver Bell #1 Tenor Banjo (1929)
1
/
of
0
Couldn't load pickup availability
Item #5035
Bacon & Day Silver Bell #1 Model Tenor Banjo (1929), made in Groton CT, shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck, rim and resonator; ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This banjo is a typical 19-fret Silver Bell, the simplest instrument in Bacon's high-end professional B&D line. That's not saying it's a plain banjo-on the contrary the upper-end Silver Bells were both the fanciest and most expensive (for the period) banjos ever built, so even the #1 is a very flashy instrument retailing originally at $140.00.
The flange has the familiar F-hole shaped cuts, the resonator back is beautifully figured burl maple, bound in black celluloid but with no nameplate. The multi-laminate maple neck has delicate shaped pearl inlays in the bound ebony fingerboard. The laminate headstock (both front and back) has a small decorative pearl piece on the back as well as elaborate face inlay. The Silver Bell series were among the finest banjos ever built, and this is a lovely example.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.). A very good playing Silver Bell; appears all original except armrest (similar to the original but a period Bestone) and the Oettinger tailpiece is the correct style but appears later, probably 1960's. There is no mute and one resonator retaining bolt (out of 4) is missing. Finish has some minor wear overall; the headstock face and back appear to have been polished out (probably due to chipping lacquer). Set up with a period (possibly original) skin head and an original Bacon bridge. Typically excellent sound, an extremely fine 4-string banjo for jazz, Irish stylings or just about anything! Excellent Condition.
View full details
This banjo is a typical 19-fret Silver Bell, the simplest instrument in Bacon's high-end professional B&D line. That's not saying it's a plain banjo-on the contrary the upper-end Silver Bells were both the fanciest and most expensive (for the period) banjos ever built, so even the #1 is a very flashy instrument retailing originally at $140.00.
The flange has the familiar F-hole shaped cuts, the resonator back is beautifully figured burl maple, bound in black celluloid but with no nameplate. The multi-laminate maple neck has delicate shaped pearl inlays in the bound ebony fingerboard. The laminate headstock (both front and back) has a small decorative pearl piece on the back as well as elaborate face inlay. The Silver Bell series were among the finest banjos ever built, and this is a lovely example.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.). A very good playing Silver Bell; appears all original except armrest (similar to the original but a period Bestone) and the Oettinger tailpiece is the correct style but appears later, probably 1960's. There is no mute and one resonator retaining bolt (out of 4) is missing. Finish has some minor wear overall; the headstock face and back appear to have been polished out (probably due to chipping lacquer). Set up with a period (possibly original) skin head and an original Bacon bridge. Typically excellent sound, an extremely fine 4-string banjo for jazz, Irish stylings or just about anything! Excellent Condition.