Ludwig Bellevue Model Tenor Banjo, c. 1926, made in Chicago, natural lacquer finish, walnut neck and resonator, ebony fingerboard, brass rim, black tolex original hard shell case.
A beautiful example of Ludwig's mid 1920's craftsmanship, the Bellevue occupied the middle of the Chicago company's banjo line but is an extremely ornate banjo considering its original $150.00 price. The engraved hardware is gold-plated over a gunmetal rim, an unusual color scheme specific to this banjo.
As with all higher-quality Ludwigs, the neck and resonator are figured walnut which Chas. McNeil (Ludwig's resident banjo consultant) considered the "only" wood suitable. Neck is bound and features numerous maple and ebony laminates both horizontally and vertically, with very fancy pearl inlay in the ebony board and ebony veneered headstock with engraved inlay and script logo. Tuners are gold-plated Planets.
Resonator edges are multi-laminate as well, and decorative rings are inlaid in the back. Hoop and rim engraved with floral designs, tailpiece engraved "Ludwig USA". Fitted with the Ludwig banjo action adjustor, two screws at the base of the neck which still works perfectly, and an original head heat/lighting assembly which consists of two Christmas-style bulbs wired to the dowel stick!
These early bottom-tension metal rim Ludwigs are very high-quality banjos, much rarer than the later (post 1927) top-tension versions, and feature all brass parts (no pot metal pieces). In terms of dollar value at the time, Ludwig offered a lot of flash and sound for the money�and that is still true now!
Overall length is 34 in. (86.4 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter of rim, and 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm.) deep. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.).
Extremely fine original condition, the last alteration made to this banjo was the addition of two small electrical contact points for the "head lights" to the bottom edge of the resonator�probably sometime in 1926! One minor crack in headstock face veneer. Minor finish scratching and plating loss, only the armrest has any heavy wear with substantial gold missing. Very old skin head in fine order and even an original Ludwig bridge!
This banjo plays perfectly and has a very fine sound, particularly for a metal-rim instrument. Original green plush-lined case also excellent. This banjo looks as if it is sitting slightly used in a pawnshop in 1929! Excellent Condition.
