Paramount Leader Tenor Banjo (1930)
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Item #6606
Paramount Leader Model Tenor Banjo (1930), made in New York City, natural re- finish, Indian rosewood resonator, rim and neck, black hard shell case.
A beautiful and quite flashy example of the all-rosewood Leader, one of William Lange's classic Paramount models. While not as fancy as some Paramounts (although fancy enough!) the Leader embodied Lange's theory that rosewood was the "finest material for tone" and sold originally for $200, more than the more elaborately decorated mahogany Style C. If features very intricate engraved pearl headstock and fingerboard inlays, multiple contrasting wood bindings and inlay throughout, with a wide layer of marquetry around the outside of the resonator rim. This later model has all the more advanced hardware: Paramount "patent pending" adjustable-tension tailpiece, neck angle adjustor, perforated decorative rim band, "hot dog" armrest and the "plunger" mute activated by pushing in the projecting arm on the bass side of the neck. Paramount banjos were the defining instruments of the Jazz age, a favorite of professional band and orchestra musicians in the 1920's and are frequently seen in period photographs, especially of African-American Jazz players.
Overall length is 34 in. (86.4 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 cm.) diameter head, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 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.). This banjo appears in almost new-looking condition, having undergone what we call the "Old man's banjo restoration" at some point. It has been completely re-finished (a very nice professional job) inside and out, and the hardware gold plated. This was very common 30-50 years ago as the Dixieland players of the period insisted on their instruments being as near perfect as possible, and as shiny!All hardware is original except for modern planet tuners (chrome plated) the original fragile cast-housing Page pegs likely having given out long ago. There is one old veneer repair to the headstock face visible under the refinish. The fancy pearl inlay engraving remains crisp and well-defined-this banjo appears to have not seen a lot of use befor being re-conditioned. The original thin frets remain in excellent condition and the neck is straighter than many Paramounts of this era, making this an excellent player. Includes a nice if somewhat worn OHSC, a very fine and extremely fancy banjo especially at this price point. Excellent Condition.
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A beautiful and quite flashy example of the all-rosewood Leader, one of William Lange's classic Paramount models. While not as fancy as some Paramounts (although fancy enough!) the Leader embodied Lange's theory that rosewood was the "finest material for tone" and sold originally for $200, more than the more elaborately decorated mahogany Style C. If features very intricate engraved pearl headstock and fingerboard inlays, multiple contrasting wood bindings and inlay throughout, with a wide layer of marquetry around the outside of the resonator rim. This later model has all the more advanced hardware: Paramount "patent pending" adjustable-tension tailpiece, neck angle adjustor, perforated decorative rim band, "hot dog" armrest and the "plunger" mute activated by pushing in the projecting arm on the bass side of the neck. Paramount banjos were the defining instruments of the Jazz age, a favorite of professional band and orchestra musicians in the 1920's and are frequently seen in period photographs, especially of African-American Jazz players.
Overall length is 34 in. (86.4 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 cm.) diameter head, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 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.). This banjo appears in almost new-looking condition, having undergone what we call the "Old man's banjo restoration" at some point. It has been completely re-finished (a very nice professional job) inside and out, and the hardware gold plated. This was very common 30-50 years ago as the Dixieland players of the period insisted on their instruments being as near perfect as possible, and as shiny!All hardware is original except for modern planet tuners (chrome plated) the original fragile cast-housing Page pegs likely having given out long ago. There is one old veneer repair to the headstock face visible under the refinish. The fancy pearl inlay engraving remains crisp and well-defined-this banjo appears to have not seen a lot of use befor being re-conditioned. The original thin frets remain in excellent condition and the neck is straighter than many Paramounts of this era, making this an excellent player. Includes a nice if somewhat worn OHSC, a very fine and extremely fancy banjo especially at this price point. Excellent Condition.
