Epiphone Recording Deluxe Art Model Tenor Banjo (1926)
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Item #13218
Epiphone Recording Deluxe Art Model Model Tenor Banjo (1926), made in Long Island City, NY, serial # 6158, natural finish, laminated maple rim, original black hard shell case.
While the original New York Epiphone company is now mostly remembered as a guitar maker, the founding Stathopoulo family originally came to national prominence with jazz age banjos. Starting in 1925 their Recording Series banjos quickly found acceptance in an already crowded professional market, becoming a firm success and laying the foundation for the great Epiphone instruments of the '30s and '40s. Crafted in Long Island City, early Epiphone banjos are superbly high quality instruments, and if their design owes something to Paramount (the tone ring, resonator and flange styles) and Gibson (the internal coordinator rod system) they always manifest an individual character.
This 1926-era banjo is a transitional combining the older 1925 style "Deluxe Art Model" neck with elaborate engraved pearl inlay and pearl Dragon on the headstock with the 1926 X-flange style Deluxe body. This evolution happened very quickly and this one is nearly identical to an example shown in the Tsumura book that has a just slightly higher serial number. At the time the Deluxe was the top of the professional line, an extremely fancy instrument retailing at $350.
All metal parts are heavily gold plated and lavishly engraved. The heavy brass flange with X style cutouts is stamped with serial #6158 in large numerals and "Pat. Apl'd for" by the tailpiece. This is fitted to a 3/4" thick laminated maple rim carrying a substantial arch-top tone ring. This rests on metal pillars embedded in the top of the wood rim with an engraved metal sheath covering the exterior. The resonator is made of laminated maple sheathed in contrasting black and pearloid Pyralin engraved and painted in a floral motif, with colored wood marquetry rings and a half-herringbone marquetry strip along the top edge.
The multi-laminate neck is reinforced with a steel bar and center laminated wood strips; the heel is heavily carved. The fingerboard is Gaboon ebony mounted over marquetry strips, bound on the sides with white Pyralin. It is decorated with heavily engraved shaped pearl position markers in a pattern reminiscent of the Paramount Leader. The headstock face is inlaid with an elaborate dragon design in mother of pearl; this distinctive early appointment was discontinued soon after this banjo was made. The original tuners are heavily engraved, pearl button Grovers and there is a prominent volute on the back of the headstock.
This is a very substantial feeling instrument weighing in at nearly 11 lbs. The sound of these early Epiphone Recording banjos is powerful and vibrant, but when backed off has a surprisingly sweet and sonorous quality. None of the original higher end Recording Series instruments are easily found today, the early "Dragon head" versions in particular; this a very rare banjo. Among old-line jazz banjo enthusiasts all 1920s Epiphones are well thought of, but this top-of-the line Deluxe would be considered among the very best tenor banjos made during their 1920s heyday. These ornate Recording Series banjos are not only among the flashiest ever made, but sonically they offer a spectacular sonic response as well!
Overall length is 34 in. (86.4 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 1/4 in. (32 mm.)., 10.81 lbs.
Overall this just about century-old banjo is in nicely preserved original condition, with one notable repair. That is an old crack to the treble side of the laminated heel running from the body joint up to but not into the center laminate strip. This was likely caused by an attempt to fit a plastic head with an oversized collar some time ago (we have seen this before). It is neatly sealed with some light topical touch up; not an ongoing issue but still visible.
Apart from this the banjo shows only generally light wear overall. The most notable spot is a long scratch to the bass side of the neck between the first and fourth frets that was lightly touched up. A small chip on the back resonator edge was touched up decades ago. Apart from this there are some small dings, dents and chips mostly to the resonator back and sides. The nicely ambered lacquer over the pearl in the headstock is almost completely intact, the engraved inlay in the fingerboard crisp and unworn
All the engraved, gold plated hardware is original including the pearl-button two-band Grover tuners, "Epiphone" engraved tailpiece, internal rim hardware and all hooks and nuts. Only the armrest is missing. The plating is very clean and bold with only minimal wear, most notably to the end of tailpiece fingers. This banjo is fitted with a modern bridge and a Fiberskyn style head that mellows the sound just a bit; these Epiphones are very loud instruments! Overall this is one of the cleanest 1920's high-end banjos we have had the pleasure to offer, an excellent player with a lovely straight neck, minimally worn frets and a truly superb and powerful sound. It remains complete with the Epiphone-branded original case, with a replaced handle. Overall Very Good + Condition.
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While the original New York Epiphone company is now mostly remembered as a guitar maker, the founding Stathopoulo family originally came to national prominence with jazz age banjos. Starting in 1925 their Recording Series banjos quickly found acceptance in an already crowded professional market, becoming a firm success and laying the foundation for the great Epiphone instruments of the '30s and '40s. Crafted in Long Island City, early Epiphone banjos are superbly high quality instruments, and if their design owes something to Paramount (the tone ring, resonator and flange styles) and Gibson (the internal coordinator rod system) they always manifest an individual character.
This 1926-era banjo is a transitional combining the older 1925 style "Deluxe Art Model" neck with elaborate engraved pearl inlay and pearl Dragon on the headstock with the 1926 X-flange style Deluxe body. This evolution happened very quickly and this one is nearly identical to an example shown in the Tsumura book that has a just slightly higher serial number. At the time the Deluxe was the top of the professional line, an extremely fancy instrument retailing at $350.
All metal parts are heavily gold plated and lavishly engraved. The heavy brass flange with X style cutouts is stamped with serial #6158 in large numerals and "Pat. Apl'd for" by the tailpiece. This is fitted to a 3/4" thick laminated maple rim carrying a substantial arch-top tone ring. This rests on metal pillars embedded in the top of the wood rim with an engraved metal sheath covering the exterior. The resonator is made of laminated maple sheathed in contrasting black and pearloid Pyralin engraved and painted in a floral motif, with colored wood marquetry rings and a half-herringbone marquetry strip along the top edge.
The multi-laminate neck is reinforced with a steel bar and center laminated wood strips; the heel is heavily carved. The fingerboard is Gaboon ebony mounted over marquetry strips, bound on the sides with white Pyralin. It is decorated with heavily engraved shaped pearl position markers in a pattern reminiscent of the Paramount Leader. The headstock face is inlaid with an elaborate dragon design in mother of pearl; this distinctive early appointment was discontinued soon after this banjo was made. The original tuners are heavily engraved, pearl button Grovers and there is a prominent volute on the back of the headstock.
This is a very substantial feeling instrument weighing in at nearly 11 lbs. The sound of these early Epiphone Recording banjos is powerful and vibrant, but when backed off has a surprisingly sweet and sonorous quality. None of the original higher end Recording Series instruments are easily found today, the early "Dragon head" versions in particular; this a very rare banjo. Among old-line jazz banjo enthusiasts all 1920s Epiphones are well thought of, but this top-of-the line Deluxe would be considered among the very best tenor banjos made during their 1920s heyday. These ornate Recording Series banjos are not only among the flashiest ever made, but sonically they offer a spectacular sonic response as well!
Overall length is 34 in. (86.4 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 1/4 in. (32 mm.)., 10.81 lbs.
Overall this just about century-old banjo is in nicely preserved original condition, with one notable repair. That is an old crack to the treble side of the laminated heel running from the body joint up to but not into the center laminate strip. This was likely caused by an attempt to fit a plastic head with an oversized collar some time ago (we have seen this before). It is neatly sealed with some light topical touch up; not an ongoing issue but still visible.
Apart from this the banjo shows only generally light wear overall. The most notable spot is a long scratch to the bass side of the neck between the first and fourth frets that was lightly touched up. A small chip on the back resonator edge was touched up decades ago. Apart from this there are some small dings, dents and chips mostly to the resonator back and sides. The nicely ambered lacquer over the pearl in the headstock is almost completely intact, the engraved inlay in the fingerboard crisp and unworn
All the engraved, gold plated hardware is original including the pearl-button two-band Grover tuners, "Epiphone" engraved tailpiece, internal rim hardware and all hooks and nuts. Only the armrest is missing. The plating is very clean and bold with only minimal wear, most notably to the end of tailpiece fingers. This banjo is fitted with a modern bridge and a Fiberskyn style head that mellows the sound just a bit; these Epiphones are very loud instruments! Overall this is one of the cleanest 1920's high-end banjos we have had the pleasure to offer, an excellent player with a lovely straight neck, minimally worn frets and a truly superb and powerful sound. It remains complete with the Epiphone-branded original case, with a replaced handle. Overall Very Good + Condition.
