Minstrel Banjo (maker unknown), c. 1870, made in USA, faux rosewood and natural varnish finish, hardwood rim, mahogany neck with brass fingerboard, original black coffin case.
This is a very interesting and somewhat unusual mid-19th century American banjo, not quite like any other we have seen. The most interesting element is the fingerboard, a flat piece of brass with etched "fret" lines screwed to the neck. This idea is something Alembic used in the 1970s on basses and called "continuously fretted"! In this case it gives the banjo some of the clarity of a fretted instrument combined with the microtonal aspects of a conventional fretless. The neck is fairly chunky with a surprisingly modern round profile, moving to a heavy "V shape at the heel.
The angled-back headstock is squared off, with a small reverse scroll on the top and two inexplicable round holes above the squared 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. The end of the fingerboard by the rim has wood overlays and inlaid bone dots beyond the decorative peak of the brass section.
The rim is made up of fairly 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; it has a great deal of age to it but hard to say if it is absolutely original. This is a superbly fascinating artifact and remains a very playable and quite good sounding early banjo.
Overall 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.).
This banjo appears to be at least 150 years old and remains playable in completely solid condition. There is a superbly aged patina and general wear overall but nothing too distracting and no structural issues. The instrument appears all or at least nearly all original, fully set up to play with a custom Remo plastic head, modern bridge and real gut strings. It comes complete in a hand-made period shaped case that is almost certainly original to it as well; the lock is delicately engraved "T.P. Rodgers Jr. " presumably the original owner. This otherwise unmarked gem is one of the most interesting late minstrel banjos we have had, as well as one of the most playable. Very Good + Condition.
