Bacon Professional FF Model Banjeaurine (1907), made in Boston, Mass., natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebonized fingerboard.
This superb rarity is one of the earliest Bacon-branded instruments ever made; dating to the first year or so of his company's banjo-selling beginnings. While Bacon banjos from this era rarely turn up this full rim, short neck Banjeurine is in a whole other class. Built for Fred Bacon by Vega in Boston in 1907, this is really a 19th century piece that has strayed into the 20th-this style of instrument was most popular 10+ years earlier, during the 1890's. Banjeurines were used to play the melody and tenor/soprano parts in the banjo clubs of the era, and were generally tuned a fourth up from the standard 5-string. By the time Bacon began selling his own instruments, most production was standard full-scale 5-strings. This is not a fancy style, with a plain maple rim and neck with only small shaped pearl inlay in the bound fingerboard and a pearl star in the headstock but like all Bacon and Vega banjos is built to the highest quality standards. Plainly ornamented but beautifully made, this most unusual Bacon is a rare treat for the banjo conoisseur with a taste for the unusual!
Overall length is 29 1/2 in. (74.9 cm.), 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm.) diameter head, and 2 11/16 in. (6.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 19 7/8 in. (505 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). Very clean overall; appears all original except for a couple of mismatched but still period nuts. Set up with a new skin head and repro 19C. Style bridge; excellent sound and playability from this 105 year old gem. Excellent - Condition.
