House of Stathopoulo Superb Wonder Model Tenor Banjo, made by Epiphone, c. 1925, made in Long Island City, NY, natural finish, Laminated walnut neck, rim and resonator; rosewood fingerboard, molded black plastic hard shell case.
This charming tenor banjo is one of the early pre-Epiphone company's "popular priced" models, sold under the "Superb" brand name. In the mid-1920's as New York's "House of Stathopoulo" was transitioning to "Epiphone Inc" some instruments used this "Superb" branding, but the banjo is still essentially a full-blood Epiphone!
This banjo is built primarily of walnut with ivoroid binding on the resonator edges a holly wood lamination under the pearl dot inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The headstock is faced in etched and hand-painted Pearloid with an incised "Superb" logo and "Wonder" banner surrounded by decorative doodads. The back of the resonator has a large octagonal floral pattern decal in the center for ornamentation, somewhat worn away on this example.
Compared to Epiphone's more expensive "Recording Model" banjos the Superb Wonder has a much simpler sheathed tone ring. The rim and resonator are basically similar to the professional models, with a single coordinator rod, heavy hoop and solid one-piece flange. The tuners are the same "tabbed" geared Grover pegs that Gibson used at the time, the tailpiece a Waverly extension style.
This Wonder is fairly basic but well made and easily holds its own both in sound and construction quality with many more expensive tenor banjos of this opulent era. While not as fancy as many high grade models from Epiphone and their competitors, this banjo is a more professional level instrument than most "budget" tenors of the 1920s.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 in. (7.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/16 in. (27 mm.).
Overall this is a worn but solid original banjo, altered only with a modern plastic head. It has some wear to show for 100 years on the planet; The finish has dings, dents and scrapes most heavily to the resonator back, which is heavily checked and worn. There is a deep divot on the upper rim of the resonator just above the heel. The back of the neck has some feelable wear but no really deep divots. The original frets show wear, the fingerboard has some minor divoting in the lower positions. The plating is very well preserved and shows only light tarnish.
All the hardware appears original. This is a good playing tenor, substantial feeling but not as heavy as the top-line Epiphones. This banjo is a nice find for the serious student banjoist; a nicely made, a full flange-and-resonator tenor at a reasonable price. It is housed in a comically overlong 5-string HSC that is otherwise a decent fit. Overall Very Good Condition.
