Our cash discount price (when offered) is available when your method of
payment is bank check, money order, wire transfer of funds or cash at our
showroom.
78-7196 Chanterelle (new) Student, 12” diameter Renaissance head, #2046, fretted, maple, with hard shell case.
Our Discount Price is $1080 and our Cash Discount Price is $1048.
78-7202 Gold Tone (new) WL-250 Maple Layde open back banjo with the famous Whyte Laydie tone ring system, #2802528, with zipper gigbag.
Only $782 or, at our cash discount price $758.
78-7137 Morgan Monroe (new) Cameron MCOB-400 open-back 5-string banjo, #ISI-1807, with hard shell case.
$589 or at our cash discount price $572.
78-7082 Chanterelle (new) 12” diameter Imperial Electric open back 5-string traditional banjo, fancy beyond all get-out, #2022-1MB, with hard shell case.
$2,286 or, at our cash discount price, $2,218.
78-7225 and 78-7226 Nechville (new) Banjovie travel banjo,
for children or peripatetic adults, the perfect pastime for those long traffic light intervals or while waiting for your turn at the supermarket check-out line. #ISI-1802 and ISI-1801, each with a zipper gigbag. $185 or at our cash discount price $179.
78-7029 -7031 Deering (new) GoodTime open-back, ISI-1796, with no Case.
The Deering List is $438 and you may phone for our price. Please add $57 for the Deering embroidered gigbag.
15-6875 Deering (new) Vega No. 2 Tubaphone Tone Ring open-back 5-string, #K932, with hard shell case.
The Deering List is $3959. The Deering MAP is $2,969.
15-6949 Huss & Dalton (new) Singletree Old-Time Banjo #HDB-128, with Tubaphone tone ring and hard shell case.
$1870 or, at our cash discount price, $1814.
15-6939 Recording King (new) RB-036, #DWK060081, NE Plus, quite fancy – and quite good sounding, with a hard shell case.
Yet it is only $1005 or, at our cash discount price, $975.
15-6845 Gibson (used, l964) RB-175 long-neck open-back 5-string banjo, #218301, in very good condition with hard shell case.
The RB-175 is described as having a rosewood fingerboard, in this instance Brazilian rosewood, dotmarker fingerboard inlays, a Gibson logo that takes the form of a gold decal. Simple it is, yes, and with no actual tone ring, but it produces the folkie tone of the 1960s. If “Join me Kids” is your mantra, this banjo will make your life sublime. $1129 or at our cash discount price $1095.
15-6456 Chanterelle (Mike Ramsey) (new) 12” Student, #1952, with a 12” Renaissance head with hard shell case.
It has the scooped ebony fingerboard that hosts nine mother of pearl dotmarkers in 7 positions; all of the pegs are geared; it has 26 brackets and a brass tube tone ring. This instrument provides you the combination of woody and plunky – it is exactly what you’d would want for round peak style clawhammer old time music. With hard shell case -- $1080 at our discount price, or, at our cash discount price, $1048.
15-6724 and 15-6723 (sold) Bart Reiter (new) Round Peak Banjo, #2931 and #2930, each with hard shell case.
We were speaking with Bart Reiter one day and happened to say – “y’know – other companies that we carry such as Huss & Dalton with their Singletree, Mike Ramsey with his Chanterelle and the Cedar Mountain Company are making banjos for the Round Top clawhammer player that have 12” Renaissance heads, scooped ends-of-fingerboards, a long scale of 26 ¼”, and a slightly elevated action to allow the player to get his or her “claw” under the string in order to “hammer” the melody out (which of course is the derivation of the term, or perhaps not)” and he said “Well, that shouldn’t be a problem – I’ll make you some!” Needless to say we was floored. After selling 11” white frosted Mylar head Bart Reiter old time and folk banjos for twenty some years we finally have a banjo that will please the bearded and the bold, the newbie and the dedicated experiment. From its ebony headstock overlay with the inlaid large star, to the ebony 17 fret fingerboard with its 9 mother of pearl dotmarkers, to the 26 bracket and hooks on the stained medium brown maple rim, and the bell bronze rolled bead which serves as a primitive type of tone ring. The back of the neck is two piece solid mahogany separated by a black laminated back stripe. Headstock tuners are Five-Star geared with large pearloid buttons, geared fifth string is Kroll style; there is an engraved metal plaque on back of wooden dowel that reads “Bart Reiter, Maker, Lansing, Mich,” and the back of the rim is capped in ebony. It is beauteous, it sounds marvelous, and the workmanship is meticulous. $1217 or, at our cash discount price, $1181
15-6432 Cedar Mountain (new) 12” Style L-2 open back 5-string banjo, #367, with plush lined hard shell case.
The Cedar Mountain Banjo Model L-2 fretted five string with its 12” all-East Indian rosewood rim, is a classic banjo with no tone ring for the traditional sound we loves, having the moon, star and other traditional inlays. The List price is $2595 but\ your cost is $2,407 or at our Cash Discount Price $2,335
15-6442 Cedar Mountain (new) 12” fretted Standard “A” 5-string banjo, #3641MB, with plush lined hard shell case.
$1675 or, at our cash discount price $1625.
15-5039 Lyon & Healy (used, c. 1900) Professional model open-back five-string banjo, #1304, in excellent condition with a newer hard shell case to be provided.
This is a classy, upscale banjo of a well known Chicago company that bears the fancy feature of floral carving at the heel of the neck. Fingerboard inlays, in an apparently ebony board, are 9 varied design large etched pearl inlays starting from the first fret wherein there is something that is not a balustrade (if it isn't a balustrade then it some other architectural figure that you see a lot of around old buildings), the third fret is a horned ram, the fifth is a scepter, the 8th is a planet surrounded by fast forward and reverse, the 10th is twin arrowheads and an etched diamond, and there are three other inlays. The headstock has three inlaid figures including a reverse of the first fret inlay above the nut. The tailpiece is a five-hook device and appears original; the machine tuners bear ivoroid buttons; the fifth peg matches the four at the headstock. The newly replaced Mylar head size is 10 ½"; the metal clad rim supports 20 brackets; one nut is replaced. The banjo shows normal signs of playing wear overall - light scratches and dings, including on back of neck and back of headstock and elsewhere; the frets are fairly low but do not need replacing. On the wood dowel inside the banjo is a nickel plated metal plate that is etched "The Lyon & Healy Professional" in a most old fashioned and delightful way. The newly replaced heel cap on this example replicates the desiccated original which hosted an etched diamond inlay. The original cap was deteriorated and glued back together in an unattractive manner so our workshop has replaced the heel cap with ebony and installed a new etched diamond inlay in the vertical configuration. Marc Horowitz, the illustrious banjo player and set-up guru has performed the best banjo set-up/cleanup you ever sawed. He replaced the bridge, disassembled the banjo, installed a new plastic head, polished the metal parts, and made the banjo hum. This banjo is now ready for another hundred and six years of continuous use. Was $2263, then $2010, then $1907, BUT NOW ON SALE for $1804 or, at our cash discount price, $1750
15-6280 Chanterelle (new) Curtis Fairbanks banjo, #1922, with hard shell case.
$2286 or, at our cash discount price, $2218.
15-6422 Deering (new) Vega Long Neck, #K185, with plush lined hard shell case --
the veritable transmogrification of the 1960s Vega Pete Seeger Model with its nickel-plated brass Tubaphone tone ring and the sound of The Weavers. Join me, kids for the List Price of $4795 and the Deering MAP of $3595.
83-4919 Deering (new) Good Time open-back 5-string banjo, with the decorative Cardboard Box (please add $56 for the gigbag).
Still the best deal we know of in a beginner or second banjo, this American-made, all-maple instrument looks like a banjo, plays like a banjo, and most importantly sounds like a banjo. For what more could one ask at only: $339, or at our cash discount price, $329. Please add $57 for the Deering embroidered (very nice) zipper gigbag.
COMING SOON: Deering LEFTY Good Time open-back banjos – for the beginner lefty player!
You can reserve one with a $100 Right of First Refusal advance deposit. (It’s fully refundable if you pass).
15-5982 Huss and Dalton (new) Singletree open back, 12” Renaissance head, old time 5-string banjo, #B109, with hard shell case.
Your cost is $1485 or at our cash discount price, $1440.
WE HAVE FOUR NEW BART REITER OPEN-BACK MODELS in stock:
Listed with each model is the web page where you can find the specs.
48-4553 Bart Reiter (new) Regent with hard shell case: $1542 or, at our cash discount price, $1496.
More information at http://members.aol.com/banjobart/regent.html
48-4522 Bart Reiter (new) Standard with hard shell case: $1163 or, at our cash discount price, $1128.
More information at http://members.aol.com/banjobart/standard.html
88-2863 S. S. Stewart (used, c. 1885 “Mini” or maybe “Piccolo” tiny
open-back banjo, #406D,
having a 9"" diameter head, 22 3/4"" scale,
31.5"" total length, metal clad birch rim, no case. square wooden
dowel with two ebony tensioners and an “S. S. Stewart/Phila., USA” stamp on its
dowel, having 20 brackets, 6 of which were missing when we got it but maybe we
can come up with replacements, an apparently original trapeze style wraparound
tailpiece, an apparently ebony 20-fret fingerboard with 6 pearl dots and one
diamond, a large star on double-cut peghead with black ebony overlay, four
original ivoroid button headstock tuners and one newer fifth string peg, a
birch neck showing normal wear on the back, a stained wood heel cap. It
produces a wonderfully clean old- timey sound from a tiny little banjo --
suitable for travel or for hanging outside the haberdashery as a compelling
advertisement, circa 1885. We don't see little banjos like this very often,
and, truth be told, neither do you. $1232 or, at our cash discount price, $1195
with no case but hey, you can't have everything.
88-2863 S S Stewart (used, c. 1885) Mini Open Back 5-string banjo, #406D, in very good condition with no case (it came with no case).
She has a 9" diameter head, 22 3/4" scale, 31.5" total length, a metal-clad birch rim, a square wooden dowel with two ebony tensioners and an
“S. S. Stewart/Phila USA” stamp on dowel. The lady also has 20 brackets, 6 of
which were missing when we got it but maybe we can come up with replacements,
an apparently original trapeze style wraparound tailpiece, an apparently ebony
20-fret fingerboard with 6 pearl dots and one diamond, a large star on
double-cut peghead with black ebony overlay, four original ivoroid button
headstock tuners and one newer fifth string peg, a birch neck showing normal
wear on the back, a stained wood heel cap. What do you get from all this? You
get a wonderfully clean old-timey sound from a tiny little banjo suitable for
travel or for hanging outside the haberdashery as a compelling advertisement,
circa 1885. We don't see little banjos like this very often, and, truth be
told, neither do you. $1232 or, at our cash discount price, $1195 with no case.
88-2237 Gretsch (used, 1960s) resonator five-string banjo, missing
virtually all its parts, with possibly original (or not) chipboard case.
When this five string Fido came in it was missing nearly all its parts except
for head and fifth string peg. It was missing the headstock pegs, tailpiece,
bridge, the bolt that holds the resonator on, the receptor that attaches to the
dowel, the brackets were rusty (probably still are), the frets were oxidized,
and the tensioner at the top end of the dowel was missing. It needed a lot of
tender, as well as loving care. But Pete Becker of our banjo department hates
to see a good banjo so depressed, and now that his therapy has ended it’s a
good player, brought back to life by a repairperson who knows how to make it
right. $510 or, at our cash discount price, $495
83-4907 Nechville Banjovie (tiny banjo) nsn,
(comes with no case but a gigbag is available for only $16).
This is made for small children to introduce them to the 5-string banjo. It
also works as an original and well-received party favor or an extra long
amulet. Bring the five-string everywhere you go -- on the subway, for walks in
the park, on bicycling trips, or when checking into the hatch for a long
deserved "rest." There is never an inappropriate time to have a
26" long, 7 7/8" diameter head, l2-fret banjo that's tuned high
enough to play (and hear) "Foggy Mountain Breakdown On Helium." Brand
new ones of these will cost you only $179 or at our cash discount price $174.
83-4967 Deering by Vega Little Wonder,
12209299-8206, with Gigbag.
The Little Wonder banjo, in prewar Vega parlance, was a utilitarian light weight model (in those days usually a tenor, most often an open-back) with no
actual tone ring, a laminated maple rim, simple inlays, and having a friendly,
woody, open sound quality. Deering's modern interpretation is a 5-string with a
similar lightweight maple rim, one coordinator rod and one neck bolt, black and
brown ebony board with 9 pearl dotmarker inlays, 24 brackets, 22 frets, chrome
plated armrest and adjustable tailpiece with four Gotoh metal button guitar
style headstock tuners, and a geared, pearloid button, fifth string tuner on
the neck. The peghead overlay is black with the VEGA logo in white block
letters, below which is an adjustable truss rod cover. It is a sweet,
unpretentious banjo which has that friendly, woody, open sound that we have
come to love. You can call, write or email for your discount price.
THE FEAGLE - OLD TIMEY ICON - FISHIE FROM THE PAST
A visitor to our Website (www.mandoweb.com) writes: "What is that critter
engraved on the headstock of some A. C. Fairbanks and Vega banjos -- the guy
with an eagle's head and the body of a snailfish? I thought it was a griffon
(or gryphon) but the dictionary says that's an eagle-lion crossbreed. - Bob
Stepno, University of North
Carolina. Bob wondered if this should be called a
"Seagle" instead, for sea creature & eagle, but felt it sounded
too much like "seagull". We replied: It's a "feagle" for
fishie-eagle. We know this because we have obtained a bit of Albert Conant
Fairbanks' DNA (from when he had scraped himself on a bracket nut) and cloned
him and have already set him up (a crude system but he remains upright and it
works) in an old frame factory building in Boston, staffed with people who come
to work every day in Victorian clothing. We tell him "The fire never
happened. You still own the company." Clones'll believe anything. In his day
feagles were prevalent. There were millions of 'em. They could swim and/or fly.
They could eat plankton or small woodland animals. Unfortunately, in those days
feagles were themselves eaten by banjo players and driven extinct. They tasted
like soft-shell crab (this was in the days before soft-shell crab was eaten,
because tartar sauce hadn't been invented yet). Anybody with more information
on feagles is welcome to send in (or email) what they know. For instance, we
know that feagles wore tiny plaid sports jackets yet A. C. Fairbanks chose to
depict them naked. What was he thinking?
