FIVE-STRING RESONATOR BANJOS
78-7339 Gibson (used, 1980) RB-250 Mastertone 5-string resonator banjo, #81280017, in excellent condition with a newer tweed exterior, plush interior hard shell 5-string case.
The Gibson RB-250 has been a staple in the bluegrass line since 1954. Features include a mahogany resonator bordered on each side by ivoroid trim, a solid mahogany three-piece neck with a crème ivoroid bound black ebony fingerboard inlaid in 8 positions (starting from the first fret) with individual mother of pearl markers that take the form of bowties, birds (the last fret markers seem like flying gulls), etched diamond and stylized crosses in a purely secular way. The headstock is fiddle-cut with a polished ebony overlay that hosts the prewar script Gibson logo, inlaid in pearl, with 8 other pearl squiggles and diamonds rampant. It has the adjustable truss rod for which Gibson instruments are famous, the carved volute on back of neck and the engraved and blackened “Mastertone” block above the last fret. Tuners are original Gibson logo sealed back-geared on the headstock with a Kroll style geared at the fifth; the bridge appears to be an original Grover and the tailpiece is a Gibson logo etched clamshell. The banjo was just set up by our repair staff and plays at a level of precision and accuracy last seen at William Tell’s practice sessions (“Take that one away and bring me another!”). The head is a Remo Weatherking frosted in excellent shape showing only a small amount of finger oils adjacent to the strings (as there should be). It retains all four thumbscrews, it restoreth thy zeal. Although overall the banjo shows normal signs of light wear, the frets are in fine fettle while the sound is striking and seductive. Perhaps it will dwell in the shell of the case at the place to the west of your dresser. $2056 or at our cash discount price $1995.
78-7171 Stelling (new) Virginian, fancy nickel-plated 5-string banjo, #6450, with plush lined hard shell case.
$4871 or, at our cash discount price, $4725.
78-7239 Stelling (new) Bellflower, #6434, with plush lined hard shell case.
$3325 or, at our cash discount price, $3225.
78-7253 and 78-7254 Deering (new) GoodTime-2 resonator back five-string banjo, #ISI-1803, and ISI-1804, each has a box but neither has a case.
The Deering List is $668. You may phone us for our price. The optional zipper-equipped embroidered gigbag is $57 additional.
78-7214 Deering (new) John Hartford 5-string,
having the famous Grenadillo tone ring for sweet response while retaining considerable volume, with the “Pop-On” Resonator, so that you can instantly play open-back or resonator-back, #K737, with hard shell plush lined case. The Deering List is $5063 and the Deering MAP is $3797.
78-7049 Steve Huber (new) Roanoke, nickel plated traditional bluegrass banjo, #407-46, with plush lined hard shell case.
$4227 at our Discount Price or, at our Cash Discount Price, $4100.
78-7037 Stelling (new) Bellflower, bluegrass resonator 5-string banjo, #6428, with plush lined hard shell case.
$3325 at our Discount Price or, at our Cash Discount Price, $3225.
15-6921 Nechville (new) Classic LC, #818, all Maple Helimount 5-string banjo, Ebony fingerboard with dot inlay, Wood tone ring and rim, 9-12" compound radius fingerboard and hard shell case.
List Price is $2835. Your cost is $2485 or, at our cash discount price $2410.
15-6922 Nechville (new) Classic Deluxe, #795, with hardshell case.
$3637 or, at our cash discount price, $3528.
15-6923 Nechville (new) Mahogany Phantom, #803, with hardshell case.
$3681 or, at our cash discount price, $3570.
15-6969 Gold Tone (new) BG-250F “Professional Bluegrass Resonator Banjo with Brass Tone Ring” (so you know it’s good), #2711503, with a zipper gigbag.
$848 or, at our cash discount price, $822.
78-7035 Deering (new) Boston B-6 – a Six-String Resonator Guitar-Banjo, #L044, with hardshell case.
The Deering List is $2,029 while the Deering MAP is $1529.
15-6938 Recording King (new) RB-R80, #0000582, with hardshell case.
$1083 or, at our cash discount price, $1050.
15-6821 Stelling (new) Red Fox Deluxe, gold-plated fancy bluegrass banjo, #6400, with hard shell plush lined case.
$4,871 or, at our cash discount price, $4,725.
15-6858 Deering (used, July 1996) Deluxe #06180796-4940, in very good condition with semi-hard case.
The Deering Banjo Company’s web site has the shortest, most terse descriptions we have ever seen. Here is the sum total of what they say about this model in the current display: “Mahogany with white head, diamond inlays, Deering Bronze Tonering.” Well, you certainly can’t say that their writing is flowery, or full of hyperbole. This really good sounding bluegrass resonator 5-string banjo shows neck wear on back center of neck, there is some oxidation (as one expects) on the metal parts. Our shop has installed a new frosted head, the frets are a bit low but it’s playable. There are railroad nails at 7 and 9. The case is a “Pro-Tec” which we call Delta-style; while this is not today the standard type of case for a Deering Deluxe it offers good protection and lots of storage space. $1,645 or at our cash discount price $1,595
15-6814 and 15-6816 Deering (new) GoodTime-2 Special, ISI-1777 and ISI-1776, with natural finish maple resonator and internal tone ring, and the ringing tintinnabulation of the bluegrass 5-string banjo.
Although designed to be played by the talented amateur, it falls into a price range not occupied by any other American made tone ring equipped 5-string banjo. It comes in a handsome box, but you can purchase a Deering embroidered zipper gigbag for an additional $57. Each GoodTime-2 Special with box Lists for $889 and the Deering MAP and our Discount Price is $669.
15-6727 Steve Huber (new) “Roanoke” bluegrass 5-string banjo, #307-41, with hard shell plush lined case.
The following is from the Huber web site: “Huber Banjos represent the very finest in modern banjo construction - they are designed and manufactured to a higher standard: the classic flathead banjos of the 1930s! Many banjo makers will hint that some aspects of their instruments can be compared to these legendary prewars; we go several steps further. The components used in the Huber Banjos are either identical to, equal to, or even of superior quality to those that were used in the storied prewar flatheads. They are assembled with an attention to detail that assures that each part is perfectly fitted to the others - a crucial and inescapable aspect of that “Killer” tone. No one would believe us if we claimed that the new Hubers sound just like these prized 70-year-old banjos - and, in truth, they don't sound that good.
Yet, we are firmly convinced that these new Huber Banjos sound every bit as good as those great prewars did when they were new.” The Roanoke model is made with a walnut neck, a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, and a burled walnut resonator which has inlaid wood marquetry. Nickel-plated hardware is utilized, including the Huber prewar style replica tone ring and the precise- replica one-piece flange that’s made of zinc. The banjo is made using animal hide glue, like the originals, including the laminating of the three-ply rock maple rim. The headstock is double cut, with a script “Huber” logo inlaid near the top, a flying birdie at the 17th fret and a rectangular pearl block at the 21st. The sound overtakes a body; it is pure, distilled Kentucky emotion and may instantly take one back to the 1950s recordings of our bluegrass heroes. We are proud to be an authorized dealer of Huber banjos. $3918 or, at our cash discount price, $3800.
15-6716 Stelling (new) Bellflower 5-string resonator banjo, #6384, with hard shell case.
Made of Virginia Black Walnut, the Bellflower boasts the natural beauty of unstained wood. A simple, yet elegant floral inlay pattern combined with tasteful ivoroid/black/ivoroid binding on the neck and resonator make the Bellflower the choice of many happy banjo owners. The metal parts are nickel plated; the rim is the Tony Pass 600TS Old Wood powerhouse, and it is housed in a deluxe TKL emerald green crushed velvet plush lined case. The List is $4300 but, crazy as we are, our pricing is $3325 at our Discount Price, or, at our Cash Discount Price, $3225.
15-6604 Deering (new) Boston 5-string banjo with steel rim that acts as a tone ring and resonator and hard shell case.
The Deering List is $1758 but the Deering MAP on this is $1299.
15-6525 Stelling (new) Golden Cross 5-string banjo, #6364, with hard shell case.
The Golden Cross was the ninth Stelling banjo to be built, the first one to have the trademarked Stelling peghead shape, and was named for Tony Golden, who rode motorcycles with Geoff and bought the first Golden Cross. This model was also honored to be the banjo played by the late great Don Reno for the last ten years of his life, and was featured on many of his fine recordings with Bill Harrell. Originally made of walnut, the current Golden Cross currently features nickel plated metal parts, and fancy, shaded, curly maple with the golden sunburst stain and purfling inlaid along the neck and resonator binding. As do all Stelling banjos, the Golden Cross has the Tony Pass 600TS Old Wood Rim and comes in a deluxe TKL emerald green crushed velvet plush lined case. $3673 or at our cash discount price, $3563
15-6341 Deering (new) Calico Professional Resonator 5-string banjo, #0587907 K365, with hard shell case.
The Deering List is $4388. The Deering MAP is $3291. Please do inquire as to what your own pricing is.
15-6391 Stelling (new) Bellflower 5-string resonator banjo, #6339, with hard shell case.
The Stelling List price is $4300 but your price, happily, is only $3325 or at our cash discount price, $3225.
15-6194 Stelling (new) Crusader Deluxe, #6315, with hard shell case.
The Stelling List is $6000. $4640 or, at our cash discount price, $4500.
15-5361 Stelling (new) Crusader Standard, #6219, with hard shell case.
The Stelling List is $4300. $3325 or, at our cash discount price, $3225.
Recording King “The Professional” Bluegrass Banjo, with hard shell case.
According to the maker: The Professional resonator banjo combines classic pre-war style features and desirable modern touches to create the ultimate bluegrass banjo. This model features a mahogany resonator, mahogany neck, bound ebony fretboard, American Standard thread hardware, 20-hole tone ring and a 3-ply rim. Designed by Greg Rich, this model recalls the most supremely crafted banjos from the Golden Age of musical instruments. The Professional features the traditional Recording King floral peghead and inlay and an authentic Mastertone-style flange. With its exceptional tone and handcrafted perfection, this banjo will appeal to amateurs as an affordable alternative. Features include: one-piece mahogany resonator w/ concentric rings, one-piece mahogany neck, traditional flange, traditional tone ring, a 3-Ply Maple Rim, Bound Ebony Fretboard, dual coordinator rods, the "Style 6" mother of pearl floral peghead & fretboard inlay, a Presto-syle tailpiece, nickel-plated hardware, a Remo frosted head, having a notched hoop, natural finish. The nut width is 1-3/16", the head size is 11", medium crown (7/16" height), it has 22 frets, a total length of 38”, and weighs 11.4 pounds following lunch. The List Price is $1,399.99, but the MAP is only $1,050.
48-4905 Kel Kroyden (by Gibson) c. 1933 tenor banjo, now converted to 5-string banjo, ISI-1680, in excellent condition with newer hard shell five-string case.
This banjo, which started life as a 19-fret full-scale tenor, has been converted to the bluegrass paragon it always yearned to become. It not only has the greatly desired one-piece flange that fans-of-the-prewar love to find, it also has the McPeake bell bronze tone ring that makes the Welkin vibrate unceasingly. It is fitted with a perfect First Quality Banjo replica five-string neck, with East Indian rosewood fingerboard bound in crème, decorated in the hearts-and-flowers inlay pattern starting from 3rd fret. The double-cut headstock presents the script mother of pearl logo and a collection of ferns, flowers, vines, diamonds, and, yes, also lower-case effs. It plays It plays effortlessly. You get both necks, including the original, somewhat worn, tenor neck with the original oxidized geared tuners with the ivoroid buttons. Much as we hesitate to talk about what might have been and what once was, this banjo’s tenor neck has the Kel Kroyden peghead logo, silk-screen over yellow celluloid with a deco star painted there under. The fingerboard of the tenor neck is yellow celluloid (or yelluloid) with painted flowers. The back of the tenor neck (as if you would even care) shows normal signs of use and finish wear. The back of the resonator still retains its yellow celluloid with painted black flowers and border keystones. The tailpiece is a newer replica but the armrest, the brackets, flange, three corrugated thumb-screws, all internal components including the nuts, are original Gibson circa 1933 equipment. It turns out to be exceptional sounding, a pedigreed celluloid-veneered puppy of the highest order. Now with both necks and if you want the tenor case, both cases, this is only $6,443 or, at our cash discount price $6,250.
48-4769 Sullivan (new) Greenbrier 5-String Banjo, # 0258, with hard shell case.
This is an exceedingly classy and fine sounding bluegrass resonator 5-string banjo, having features such as a pearl inlay-bordered polished ebony head plate with a large and ferocious fern (with wings and flower pot) inlaid at center of headstock. There under is a simple black bell-shaped truss rod cover held in place by two nickel-plated round hole screws. The fingerboard is no less fancy, having 1930s style banjo inlays in 10 positions starting from first fret, sweeping depictions of flowers and Victorian flourishes of every description, except at fret number 21 at which position is a rectangular pearl block etched “Greenbrier.” The back of the resonator is one piece of highly flamed maple and the back of the one-piece neck is even more frenetically figured tiger stripe maple. The pot is built in the traditional prewar bluegrass style utilizing a 3-ply rim made from slow- growth, cold-climate, rock maple, harvested on the Canadian border. All five tuners are geared with grained ivoroid buttons. The tone ring provided is a custom made bell-metal 20-hole flathead especially designed for the Sullivan banjo. It has a Sullivan logo engraved on its skirt. For you Ted Williams fans, this tone ring has been cryogenically subjected to 300 degrees below zero for 12 hours to artificially age the metal. There is no longer any need to have to wait until retirement age to get the best sound your banjo can produce. Each side of the resonator, the heel cap, and both sides of the fingerboard are tastefully bordered in black and ivoroid. This banjo is so powerful that (we’ve heard that) in certain south-western climates large condors and vultures worship it as some sort of god. For more information about this model Sullivan banjo click on: http://www.sullivanbanjo.com/Static/Greenbriar.htm The List is $3995. Your cost is only $3089 or, at our cash discount price, $2996.
15-5361 Stelling (new) Crusader –
#6219, with hard shell case, priced at $3,325 at our discount price, or at our cash discount price this is $3,225.
15-6194 Stelling (new) Crusader Deluxe –
fancy - #6315, with hard shell case. This is $4640 at our discount price, or at our cash discount price, $4500.
15-6391 Stelling (new) Bellflower -
#6339, with hard shell case. Priced at $3,325 at our discount price, or at our cash discount price this is $3,225.
48-3081 Deering (new) Boston 6-String Guitar/Banjo, #F151, with hard shell case.
Deering List Is $1805. Deering MAP is $1399
88-2932 Deering (new) Sierra 5-String Banjo, #F143, with hard shell case.
This banjo Lists for $2246 and has a Deering MAP of $1629.
83-6932 Deering (new) Sierra, 11214700-9008, H
As you go up the Deering line the banjos sure do seem to get heavier. The weight, from the bell bronze sand cast tone flathead ring, is what gives fine banjos their distinctive brassy tone and projection. This thoroughly professional, but modestly priced instrument, has a three ply maple rim, stained a gravy brown, a golden and brown matching mahogany one-piece neck, twin coordinator rods through the rim, four Planetary sealed gear banjo tuners and a matching pearloid button geared fifth on the side. The peghead is ornamented with a gold decal of “Deering Banjo Company” and an eagle in profile. Fingerboard inlays are MOP dots. The sound is thrilling and chilling and the manufacturer’s list price is $2246. The Deering MAP is $1629.
83-6402 Deering (new) Deluxe 5-string, 823300-8732, H
Deering points out that the gloss finish, ebony fingerboard, diamond shaped inlays and extra trim on the back of the resonator and along the edge of the peghead are features that make a more elegant instrument. The mahogany neck and resonator, they note, creates a sweet tone. It is a banjo made with the same 3-ply maple rim, sand-cast virgin bell bronze tone ring, zinc flange and nickel-plated metal parts that are used on more expensive banjos. We are exceedingly pleased to point out that this is the first Deluxe we’ve received to have the high gloss, lacquer finish, East Indian rosewood head plate with a tasteful and stylish inlaid banner with the word “DEERING” etched and blackened at the center, instead of the plain and still quite bald-eagle-decal they had used. Deering’s list price is $2782. The Deering MAP is $2099.
83-4870 Deering (new) Good Time 2, a five-string banjo with a resonator.
A new resonator-back 5-string bluegrass banjo, largely of maple, very fine sounding, and one which comes a high-quality semi-professional gigbag. Made right over there in Lemon Grove, CA, this is the lowest priced American-made resonator-back 5-string beginner level bluegrass banjo in the land. We like it, we does. You will too. Get out those finger and thumb picks, Hanna, grandpa's coming home tonight! The Deering List Price is $648 and the MAP is $489. Add $52 for embroidered zipper gigbag.
83-4376 Deering (new) Sierra Bluegrass Banjo, 08189899-8027, H.
The Sierra has a 3-ply maple neck with a sandcast bell bronze tone ring, satin finshed mahogany neck and resonator, Planetary banjo tuners, black peghead veneer with white Deering logo and a dot inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The manufacturer's list price is $2246. The Deering MAP is $1629.
If you would like more information on MANDOLIN BROTHERS' products and services, please write, phone, fax or email to mandolin@mandoweb.com.
