{"product_id":"s-s-stewart-s-b-monogram-the-amateur-grade-2-5-string-banjo-1905-8483","title":"S. S. Stewart S\u0026 B Monogram The Amateur Grade 2 5 String Banjo (1905)","description":"S. S. Stewart S\u0026amp; B Monogram The Amateur Grade 2 Model 5 String Banjo, c. 1905, made in Philadelphia, PA, serial # 52341, natural finish, spunover rim, cherrywood neck with ebony fingerboard. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 36 1\/4 in. (92.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1\/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 27 in. (686 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3\/16 in. (30 mm.). This is a nice 100+ year old \"knock around\" openback banjo, amazingly original and well preserved for its age. The Stewart \u0026amp; Bauer Monogram brand was in use shortly after Stewart himself passed away, and this banjo dates to the very early 20th century. It is a nicely made, good quality instrument, intended-as it is labelled-for amateur and student players. S\u0026amp;B instruments from this period are not as common as older Stewarts, but are still made to the same standard. This one has a celluloid plaque on the back of the headstock \"Made expressly for F. Droop \u0026amp; Son Washington DC\". \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe spunover rim is in excellent shape-the plating is still quite shiny with some small corroded spots. The hardware remains all original except a few hooks, nuts and shoes but all are period. The tailpiece and tuners remain original as well. The neck finish is clean overall, with not much finish wear. There is a small inexplicable filled hole on the back behind the 17th fret where perhaps a strap button was mounted, and a small chip off one of the points on the headstock face. The neck has a slight backbow but the banjo plays well as a steel-string, which is problematic with most older Stewarts. Set up with an older skin head, a nice sounding old instrument that has not seen a lot of use over more than a century. Excellent - Condition.","brand":"S. S. Stewart","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853315428492,"sku":"8483","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_f2852064-cafe-4d6b-8eeb-e2d6b2cfc593.jpg?v=1774334312","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/s-s-stewart-s-b-monogram-the-amateur-grade-2-5-string-banjo-1905-8483","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}