{"product_id":"fairbanks-senator-no-1-5-string-banjo-1905-13777","title":"Fairbanks Senator No. 1 5 String Banjo (1905)","description":"Fairbanks Senator No. 1 Model 5 String Banjo (1905), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 23077, mahogany stain finish, spunover rim, mahogany neck with ebonized fingerboard, brown alligator chipboard case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Senator No.1 is an early example of one of the plainer banjos in the Fairbanks\/Vega line but still a fine quality instrument. Built on a simple 1890s style spunover rim the Senator represented a no-nonsense student-level banjo that is nonetheless highly prized today as a stellar old-time and frailing instrument. Later Senators were built with a standard wood Vega rim and less inlay making this early spunover variation rather rare, sort of a hybrid of 19th and 20th century features.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCompared to the fancier Fairbanks banjos this Senator is a pretty basic instrument; the materials and finish are relatively Spartan, but the construction and fitting is to a typically high level as with all the company's banjos from this era. The neck is mahogany with a bound ebonized maple fingerboard. There is shaped, engraved pearl inlay on the fingerboard and headstock. The spunover rim is nickel plated with a simple rolled-over tone ring. The dowel stick is stamped \"Senator\" and \"No. 1\", with the classic Fairbanks metal nameplate screwed on in the center. The rim and stick carry matching serial numbers. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis one has an extra level of beauty and history to it as the inlay work can be attributed to the hand of Fairbanks' master engraver Icilio Consalvi, who left the company not long after it was made. Although the engraved pearl is much less extensive than higher-end Fairbanks banjos, each individual piece is beautifully executed. According to recent scholarship Consalvi stopped working for the Fairbanks company in 1906 when the instruments were running around serial number 239XX. This banjo (#23077) is a fairly late example of his work when his talents were in full flower. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis particularly beautiful early Senator is lovely player and fine example of a 120 year old Boston banjo, less sophisticated than Fairbanks' heavier rim, higher end models but a delightful find nonetheless.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 35 1\/2 in. (90.2 cm.), 10 7\/8 in. (27.6 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1\/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 in. (660 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3\/16 in. (30 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis well-over-a-century old instrument remains in lovely original condition overall, showing some light wear but amazingly enough no serious damage or alteration. There is only light wear to the original finish and plating, which still shines like it did when Teddy Roosevelt was in the white house. There are some splits in the dyed wood headstock veneer but all are tight and solid; the most notable wear is heavier chipping to the rim side of the ebonized heelcap. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll hardware is original including the friction tuners, a complete set of hooks and nuts and the No-Knot tailpiece. The banjo is set up with a very nice older genuine skin head and a later bridge. This is a very fine playing and sounding old-time banjo, with a lighter tone than a Whyte Laydie or Tu-Ba-Phone but equally attractive in its own way. It resides in a later period (1950s) alligator chipboard case with a 1920s period Elton metal plate resonator and mounting hardware and a cool 1950s Bobby Lee banjo strap. Overall Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Fairbanks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47558533349516,"sku":"13777","price":2450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_57494508-215e-4933-ab7a-50fdfb652f34.jpg?v=1776100822","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/fairbanks-senator-no-1-5-string-banjo-1905-13777","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}