Banjos      

EB - 0007 Mid teens Clifford Essex 5 String Banjo     EXC   With its 11 inch rim spunover what looks like mahogany and a simple hoop tonering and nice skin head, this old feller gets a mighty sweet old timey sound. Scale Length is 26 3/4" and the nut width is 3/16 and the mahogany neck shows wear on the back and is very comfortable to play. Ebony fingerboard has lovely abalone and pearl inlays in it as does the headstock. The tuning pegs work fine. All parts appear original and match nicely and the 15a Grafton Street label proudly graces the dowel stick. Oversize chipboard case.
Price:   $1395.00

BB - 00016 1927 Bacon Style B original 5 string Banjo     EXC +   A pre war original 5 string banjo with .... get this .... an orignal flathead tone ring ! Ok, it ain't no Gibson tone ring but it's a flathead nevertheless. The banjo sounds great for either bluegrass or old timey set up with a standard plastic head on it's mahogany rim. The resonator is a highly flamed gorgeous sunburst with the Groton Ct. label inside. The geared 5th peg is not original but sure works nice. The two tab Grovers are original. Pearl Bacon script on the headstock. Original 5 string tailpiece. Proper stampings on the dowel stick and the serial numbers match on rim and dowel. Ebony fingerboard with attractive pearl inlays and spikes at 7,9,10 and 12. And then there's ... the case. It's beautifully painted at the bottom with a fall harvest cornucopia and at the top with flowers and acorns. This was either done by or commissioned by the owner, Alec Somerville. If you are a banjo player named Alec Somerville this instrument is definitely for you. No matter what your name is, this is a great banjo in an eye catching case.
Price:   $3495.00

GB - 00039 1940 Gibson TB- 11 Tenor Banjo     EXC -   A fantastic example of Gibsons pearloid delight. These come in many shades of color but I really like the blue ones and this one is true blue from the headstock to the resonator. It is in fine condition with just a couple of scratches on the side of the resonator and one teeny surface crack in the side of the resonator at the heel. The hardware is in very nice shape and the coveted original one piece flange is a fine example as one can see from looking at it from both the bass side and the treble side as well as at the heel. Original Grover two tab tuning pegs. Interestingly this banjo was fitted with a guitar banjo tailpiece with 6 tangs. It's original hard shell case is in decent shape as well.
Price:   $4400.00

GB - 00035 1935 Kel Kroyden (by Gibson) Conversion     VG++   Here's the real deal and you can hear it in the tone. You got your one piece flange full thickness rim same as a Mastertone without a tone ring. The flange is a Nashville Plating Co. replacement since the old one (included) was broken. And we had Larry Cohea install a Mc Peake flat head tone ring and a second co-ordinator rod (the KK rim is originally drilled for it but has only one installed) as well as a nice Wreath Pattern five string neck and then set it up perfectly with spikes at frets 7,8,9, and 10. It plays beautifully and sounds incredible. Gibson script on the headstock and Planet tuning pegs and the fabulous M.O.T. resonator with original lugs. Original case and tenor neck with original pegs, flange (and broken pieces), and brass rod 'tone ring' are available if you so desire.
Price:   $4950.00

PB - 00012 1928 Paramount Style F Tenor Banjo     EXC -   The top of the line in the letter series Parmount Banjos - All metal parts are gold plated and engraved. The 11 1/8" rim is Brazilian rosewood as is the neck and resonator with fancy marquetry abounding throughout. Engraved fingerboard inlays in the butterfly motif and ornate headstock inlays with the back of the peghead carved in leaves. Some batches of Page tuning pegs are notorious for detrioration and two of these must have suffered this fate and were ingeniously modified by a previous owner and they work. The other two are the original tuning pegs and work fine as well. They say "A bird on the heel is worth another one on the side" or something like that. Gold on the tailpiece is in great shape and the gold on the armrest is worn. Serial numbers match on dowel and rim. And undoubtedly installed by the original owner are the interior lights that are actually a real banjo accessory made by Elton. This is a good strong player with plenty of volume and full tone. Hard shell case is from around the fifties.
Price:   $2995.00

PB - 0004 1924 Paramount Style C Plectrum Banjo     EXC   What a beautiful piece this is. Fine mahogany rim and laminated neck with exquisite marquetry trim on the neck and resonator and even the inside of the rim. The back of the peghead is carved and the tuners are the original Page pegs. Intricate carved inlays abound on the peghead and in the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with the theme being doves in various poses with the exception of the first fret wherein resides either Ludwig Von Beethoven or Cupid ... you decide. Original hardshell case.
Price:   $2350.00

PB - 0009 1926 Paramount Style A Banjo Mandolin     VG+   Extremely rare instrument with Piano Volume and Harp Quality Tone as stated on the label inside the rim which has the nice decorative cut outs on the tone ring skirt. Maple rim, neck and resonator, fancy inlays in the headstock and Eight of the small original Page tuning pegs. Very impressive indeed. And the original red plush lined velvet zipper cover hard shell case could be quite nice with a bit of restoration.
Price:   $1295.00

VB - 00015 1930 Vega Tubaphone #3 with Wildwood #7 Style Neck     EXC   Here's a fine sounding and playing and looking banjo for you. The 1930 Tubaphone rim which is serial # 88860 has been mated to a beautiful flame maple Wildwood neck that is finished to match the original flame maple resonator whose inside is also quite flamey and bears the Vega stamp. Exquisite Style 7 engraved inlays in the fingerboard and the Wildwood engraved inlay on the peghead. Original 4 piece flange and tubaphone tone ring. New Weatherking head . Newer planet type tuning pegs. Hard shell case. Great banjo for either old timey or bluegrass.
Price:   $2250.00

PB - 0003 1930's Bacon & Day Senorita Plectrum Banjo     EXC +++   WOW! What Condition! It's great to find them like this. And the case too ... what character! Very comfortable and beautiful laminated neck with engraved pearloid heelcap as well as engraved pearloid lower fingerboard and, (wouldn't you know it)  upper fingerboard. The rim looks practically new with pearloid sides and cloverleaf flange. The resonator gleems as well. And even the inside glistens. Orignal Grover pat.pend geared tuning pegs and beautiful engraved headstock complete the picture. And the sound is fantastic. Clear and bright and suitable for anything ... even bluegrass.
Price:   $1350.00

MB - 00011 Late Twenties Slingerland Deluxe Tenor Banjo     EXC+   Wow! This banjo certainly lives up to it's "Deluxe" classification. Nest to the top of the Slingerland line, it is indeed a gorgeous piece of art and craftsmanship. The highest quality woods and ornamentation are used throughout and the hand of Wm. L. Lange is evident. Not only that, there is a very faint stamp inside the rim .. "Lange Made". The rim is rosewood and marquetry trimmed even on the inside bottom. The neck is also rosewood with rosewood fingerboard elaborately inlaid with the avian motiff. the name "A Farland" is engraved at the last fret. Go figure. The resonator is likewise rosewood inside and out with colorful marquetry abounding. Even the heel is adorned with marquetry and capped with rosewood. All metal parts are gold plated and engraved. The tension hoop has a fancy engraving pattern around the top and the flange has lovely bells engraved on it. The armrest repeats the bells along with leaves with the center bell having an "S" engraved in it. The tailpiece is decoratively engraved with "Maybel" in script at the bottom. Original tuning pegs are lustrous gold and the headstock is resplendent with a peacock and other birds. This instrumnent has recently been renovated by Vinnie Mondelo "Mr. Vintage Banjo" himself and it plays wonderfully and sounds as good as any Vega or B & D Silverbell. Brilliant and Loud but with the sweetness that a gold tone ring adds. The original hard shell case is in pretty good shape with it's faux aligator covering mostly intact and all latches working fine.
Price;   $1895.00

EB - 00001   Original 5 String Epiphone Banjo  ca. 1920   VG   This is a rare banjo for an Epiphone afficionado. It's got a great old timey sound and puts out a lot of volume. Take a look at the inside of the rim. Very straightforward. The banjo is all orignal including the pegs . The label on the back dates it to the days of "The House of Stathopoulo". There is very nice detail where the neck widens for the fifth peg. The resonator is pretty birds eye maple which shows up nicely even on the inside. A simple flange keeps it in place. The headstock has a simple but elegant veneer overlay. The banjo is in excellent condition with no problems. It has playing wear. The original double pocket, plush lined case is in quite good shape on the inside but worn on the outside. Two latches need to be replaced and it is not really structurally sound. It could be restored.  
Price Reduced:   $1995.00 Reduced $1495.00

MB - 00010 Late Twenties Slingerland "May Bell" Five String Banjo     EXC   This is a sweet heart of a banjo set up really nicely and with a great versatile sound. Nice and clear and sweet and loud thanks to the unique tone ring and the old birds eye maple used in the rim and the resonator and the neck. Ebony fingerboard and orignal Grover tuning pegs and original No Knot tailpiece. Nice pearl inlay in the headstock. Resonator comes off easily with the big knob on the back. Name and serial #428 stamped on the dowel stick. This banjo plays great for old timey or bluegrass or anything else you care to throw at it. Gig bag.
Price:   $1595.00    ON HOLD

YB - 0002 Yosco #3 Tenor Banjo     EXC   Probably from the mid-twenties as the patent for the internal resonator was granted in 1918 and they were listed as being in business in 1930. This is a high quality instrument in fine shape. The patented internal resonator design makes for a deep archtop rim and the f-holes in the back of the sound chamber are fancier than the Bacon variety. Attention to detail is evident at the heel as well as the fancy backstrap on the back of the peghead. Elegant inlay adorns the fingerboard and headstock. The original hard shell case is pretty nice as well.
Price:   $1395.00 Reduced:   $1095.00    ON HOLD

PB - 0009 1926 Paramount Style A Banjo Mandolin     VG+   Extremely rare instrument with Piano Volume and Harp Quality Tone as stated on the label inside the rim which has the nice decorative cut outs on the tone ring skirt. Maple rim, neck and resonator, fancy inlays in the headstock and Eight of the small original Page tuning pegs. Very impressive indeed. And the original red plush lined velvet zipper cover hard shell case could be quite nice with a bit of restoration.
Price:   $1295.00

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Lowell Levinger - Proprietor