#59160, short scale tenor banjo, in excellent condition with original hard shell case.
A short scale tenor banjo has 17 frets; it was made for semi-professional
musicians with small hands. Nowadays the players of Scots and Irish music
prefer this type of banjo. Although it came to us (meowing at the front door)
missing its fingerboard binding our workshop will be restoring ivoroid binding
that they will, themselves, age – it’s possible that no one would ever know this
work was done. The scale length is 22 7/8”. This tenor banjo is overall in very fine condition, the maple
back-of-neck shows some small dings but does not show hand wear that comes from
excessive playing time. There are some small semi-circular indentations in the
ebony cap on the back of the rim, a modicum of fret wear in the lower positions,
some dullness to the finish on the headplate, rim and neck (as is normal after
85 years). The stretcher band, bracket band and 30 brackets are all nearly free
of oxidation and in exceptional shape. The black fingerboard seems at first
glance to be ebony but it is more likely ebonized pearwood, inlaid with 8 pearl
dots in 5 positions with a large star at the fifth, plus another star inlaid at
the center of the unstained pearwood headplate. Its tuners are original
un-geared friction machines -- meaning that they have metal and ivoroid parts
and are tightened by a screw at the end of the button. The skin head is in
excellent condition and measures 11 3/4". Wide diameter head Vega Whyte Laydie
tenor banjos make the best and highest use candidates for conversion to 5-string
banjo when played in frailing and round peak styles. Our shop will, for now,
be replacing the missing neck binding, performing a set-up and restringing this
precious pimpled peccary but at that point this will be an excellent player of
the right lineage, from the right period and definitely carrying the right
credentials.
Our Discount Price is $1,850.00 and Our Cash Discount Price is $1,795.00.
Additional Photos (click for expanded view)
