{"product_id":"unknown-minstrel-banjo-1860s-4399","title":"unknown Minstrel Banjo (1860's)","description":"Minstrel Banjo (maker unknown), c. 1860's, made in USA, faux rosewood and natural varnish finish, mahogany neck with brass fingerboard, original black coffin case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn interesting and rather unusual mid-19th century American banjo. The fingerboard is brass with etched \"fret\" lines and is screwed to the neck. The headstock is squared off, with a small reverse scroll on top and two inexplicable round holes above the guitar-style slots for the tuners. The tuners themselves are guitar-style brass strips with bone buttons; the fifth string tuner is a single unit of similar type mounted to the side of the neck in unusual fashion, with a bone spacer at the top end. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe end of the fingerboard has simple wood marquetry and small inlaid bone dots for ornamentation. The rim is thin wood with a faux rosewood finish and brass shoes that hook over the bottom edge. The standard type dowel is pinned with a wooden wedge at each end. The tailpiece is brass and bone. A very playable early banjo.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 36 1\/2 in. (92.7 cm.), 11 1\/2 in. (29.2 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1\/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1\/2 in. (673 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1\/2 in. (38 mm.). Generally Excellent Condition.","brand":"unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50731056136332,"sku":"4399","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_89a9995d-d158-4870-827a-05ff5087e4d3.jpg?v=1781549792","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/unknown-minstrel-banjo-1860s-4399","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}