Paramount Style A Model Tenor Banjo (1926), made in New York City, serial # 5869, natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim, resonator and neck; rosewood fingerboard, period black hard shell case.
Paramount's Style A was the lowest-grade instrument in the company's professional standard "letter series" line retailing at $130.00; in the 1920's this was still a very expensive banjo by most standards! William Lange's Paramount line were the most popular orchestra banjos of the 1920's (along with the Vegaphone) and basically set the pattern for the 'modern' 1920's resonator tenor banjo. These banjos were the lynchpin of the rhythm section of every jazz and dance band in the country, as well as a featured soloist's instrument.
This Style A is typical of 1920's Paramounts, with all the construction details of the highest grade instruments. The neck and rim feature all-maple construction with rosewood-bound edges. The rosewood fingerboard has notched diamond pearl inlay, there is a marquetry strip under the fingerboard and a particularly fancy and attractive peghead design with elaborate pearl inlay. This Style A is a medium-fancy tenor by 1920's standards but has all the sound of the best Paramounts and this is a fine example of a nearly 90 year old banjo.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm.) diameter head, and 3 7/16 in. (8.7 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.). A relatively clean banjo overall; appears all original except there is no armrest and the banjo is fitted with fairly recent Planet-style tuners ( the 1920's Page tuner housings are very prone to crumbling, so many of these tuners have been lost over time). There is finish loss to the back of the neck from play, but not a lot of other finish wear; the resonator is fairly clean and the headstock lacquer is better preserved than most. A very nice player with the typical great Paramount sound! Excellent Condition.
