Although the Fairbanks and Cole Company predated the solo flight of A. C. himself by 10 years, and in that time the prior partnership built around 15,700 instruments, Mr. Albert Conan Fairbanks went out on his own in 1890. The Whyte Laydie model was introduced in 1901 and then something really bad happened – in March of 1904 the Fairbanks factory had a ferocious fire (factually, a fearsome conflagration). Luckily, the Vega Banjo Company was located in the same town and took over production. Vega continued to use the “A. C. Fairbanks, Co., Makers, Boston, Mass” metal plate logo on the maple dowel until 1910, and there after they stamped the dowel “Fairbanks by Vega” until 1923 when they finally changed over to just “Vega.” Needless to say having the Fairbanks plate is a sign of great prestige. The finest open-back banjos made bear this legendary maker’s etched plaque. The Whyte Laydie No. 2 needs no introduction – it has all of the accoutrements of a first class instrument, and features the famous nickel-plated, scalloped brass Whyte Laydie tone ring.
Perhaps you are wondering about the derivation of the name, “White Lady.” It was, in the 1930s a slang term used by drug dealers for cocaine, mostly used on the phone as a euphemism to throw off the suspicions of anyone who might be listening. In Europe the term was used to describe ghosts seen in castles belonging to Prussia’s royal family, and in Ireland the term referred to a domestic spirit that warns of approaching doom by, um, shrieking. Now that we know what a White Lady is, we can return to his fine banjo. This instrument has the nickel plated bracket band around the maple rim, so that the maker did not have to make 28 holes in the body, thus preserving the integrity of the pot. The tailpiece, which was probably added around a decade or two after the banjo was made, has lost its nickel – if it ever had plating - and is now down to the brass, and bears the Kirschner Co., Chicago, IL stamp and two patent dates of 12-29-14 and 5-9-16. All brackets and nuts appear to be original, and it has its original metal tensioner and metal cladding at the base of the interior dowel. The interior of the rim has two decorative rings of tortoise color celluloid and the serial number is stamped twice - on the rim and on the dowel. The head is a modern Fiberskyn® and the bridge is a maple and ebony modern Grover.
The neck is, in our opinion, original to the banjo, and is maple with a thin laminate line on the back (for strength) of ebony or some other dark wood. Tuners are geared Grover Patent with grained ivoroid buttons and we somewhat doubt that A. C. Fairbanks banjos had geared tuners in 1908 so they are likely later replacements. The fifth string peg is a Kroll style geared tuner with matching color button. A prior owner has added a sliding fifth string capo to the bass side of the neck from fret 5 to fret 11. The back of the neck is a bit shiny which could be from years of gentle hand contact or it could be light overspray; the rim is not oversprayed and not shiny. The back of the neck shows normal signs of use and wear, a few small dings and scuffs but on the whole this is one righteous banana. The headstock (we love this) has the etched and blackened star, then the somewhat grim looking gryphon (perhaps it has just been told that its favorite pet fish parasite has just passed away), and then the etched mutant acorn with two fig leaves facing up. The first fret has the etched mutant acorn with two fig leaves facing down. The fifth fret is adorned with a large etched and blackened star and the rest of the fingerboard inlays are 7 etched diamonds of diminishing size. The fingerboard is ebony and bound in ivoroid on two sides. The banjo plays easily and comfortably and it sounds the way a 1907 Fairbanks plate White Laydie should sound – colorful, lyrical, smooth, dulcet and savory with just the right amount of sensuality and grace one would expect from the achromatic lady.
We offer you a nearly completely original A. C. Fairbanks old time banjo with the right tone ring and the right sound, an easy action, heavenly good looks and, um, the appearance of a healthy young gryphon. Being able to own an instrument as fine and desirable as this is like winning the state lottery on the same day that your doctor tells you that you have the body of a 19-year-old (ah, but does the good physician know where it’s hidden?).
NOW ON SALE!!! WAS $5213 BUT NOW: