Bacon Style #1 Model Banjo Ukulele (1926), made in Groton CT, serial # 21663, natural mahogany finish, mahogany neck and rim, ebonized fingerboard, black gig bag case.
These little mahogany Bacon Style 1s are one of our favorites, unpretentious and simple but just about the best-sounding openback banjo-ukes ever made. The neck and rim are mahogany construction with high-grade nickel-plated hardware, including a heavy brass hoop, 4-string No-Knot tailpiece and Grover simplex pegs. The mahogany neck has a dot inlaid ebonized maple fingerboard. The instrument is fitted with an original "Bestone" armrest fitted exactly to the rim, something not usually seen on these. This was the least expensive instrument made by Bacon/B&D but is still of much higher quality than most other banjo-ukes, an excellent player with plenty sound to spare.
Overall length is 22 in. (55.9 cm.), 8 in. (20.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
Overall this is a nice century-old example; for some reason long ago someone sanded just the headstock face down leaving only a ghost of the "Bacon" logo. The nut was replaced as well; other than that the instrument remains original with some general wear but no other repairs or modifications. This fine simple but high-grade banjo-uke plays very nicely and sounds great, equipped with a modern gig bag. Good Condition.
