FIVE-STRING RESONATOR BANJOS
76-8744 Deering (used, c. 2004) Saratoga Star banjo, #116404-0059, one of the models in their Tenbrooks Line, with the original tone tone ring and original hard shell case.
This banjo is in excellent original condition, and it has been set-up by our staff of Lutherans. This is, by anybody’s standards, a beautifully appointed instrument. It has large banjo-type (imagine that) floral inlays including leaves, flowers, trumpets, flourishes, and something that looks like a dragon spitting out a rubber ball (at least that’s how it looks to me, doctor). The headstock starts with a black bordered pearl banner and the brand name “Deering” in dark black block letters, two diamonds, a small star, a flower entwined with a plant-based alien whose tail is prehensile, then two standing trumpets surrounded by dots a couple more diamonds and a black, bell-shaped truss rod cover held in place by two black Phillips head screws. The black ebony fingerboard is bound in white (Boltaron® or something), the back of the neck, one-piece back of resonator and sides of same are highly curly maple. The back of the resonator is four-ply (black-white) decorated, and the sides in single-ply. Tuners are Planetary on the headstock, Kroll style at the fifth string; the tailpiece is “Deering” logo and nickel plated. Twenty two ports around the flange are shaped as the silhouette of Alfred E. Newman’s face and ears; all metal parts are plated to a silvery, shiny surface. There is a block of pearl at the 21st fret that reads “Tenbrooks.” This name derives from the song “Molly and Tenbrooks” which was about two anthropomorphized screws – the first was used to hold moderately heavy objects to a sheetrock wall or ceiling and the second was a “Specialized Molly” that was around 10 times the size of the first and was used to hold extremely heavy objects like banjos to a sheetrock wall, and also to, well, impale vampires. In the earliest days of bluegrass vampires roamed the hills of Kentucky. When so impaled with a Tenbrooks skewer, which was sort of a Daphne blue color like the grasses through which they stalked, their blood ran down through the fields like a puddle from a micturating racehorse and thus derives the repeated line “Run, Molly Run.” Like that horse, finding this banjo is a great relief for us since they are really fine instruments and in this rarefied hierarchy they are situated at the pinnacle of the Deering Domain. $5,671 or, at our cash discount price, $5,500.
78-7214 Deering (new) John Hartford Model five-string, #K737, having the “Pop-On” resonator, with hard shell plush lined case.
This model comes factory-equipped with the famous Granadilla tone ring – a wooden tone ring made of the same type of material as xylophones or marimbas use – except that with those instruments the player strikes the bars with mallets while banjo players are driven away from bars with mallets. This wood, which everybody agrees is handsome (at least its got its good looks) is also used for making flutes and other wind instruments. Other names for this wood include red ebony, or Grenada cocos. It is known, as well as for being handsome, for its old-timey, traditional response while retaining considerable tonal complexity. Volume is additionally enhanced by the addition of the “Pop-On” Resonator – a curly maple veneered dish with a one-piece back, five-ply black-white purfling around said back, two-ply on each side, held in place by four plush-covered metal receivers that hug the hollow tube through which all 24 brackets pass, so that, by just gently pulling the resonator back at an angle, it will “pop off” in a most delightful way, right into your waiting hand. By this manner you can instantly play open-back or, by pressing it back on, resonator-back, five-string banjo, just as John Hartford intended. The headstock is considerably yet delicately inlaid with mother of pearl scrollwork including the “Deering” name in stylized block letters. There is, as well, a black, wraithlike, plastic truss rod cover held in place by two screws so that the neck’s orientation can always be straight. The first fret is a flourish of stately pearl with two f-hole shapes facing one another; the 8th and 9th frets are more mirror image f-hole shapes and another separate but equal scepter, the next to the last fret says “Hartford” and a fine that’s inlaid at the 22nd fret extends up to border the etched block with our namesake’s moniker. All tuners are geared with pearloid buttons, the fingerboard and resonator are bound in ivoroid (that’s a lot of oid) and the inside of the rim is mahogany with twin nickel-plated coordinator rods running through it. It is also quite light in weight for a resonator banjo, weighing in with resonator on at only 8 pounds 2.5 ounces. The sound is sweet and highbrow, a banjo this beautiful will raise many an eyebrow. This versatile instrument puts the “hot” in “Hartford.” The Deering List in this configuration is $5063 and the Deering MAP is $3797.
76-8684 and 76-8168 Deering (new) “Goodtime 2 Special” Resonator-back 5-string banjo, serial numbers ISI-1850, and #ISI-1850, each with resonator and tone ring.
The Gig Bag is optional. For each banjo the Deering List is $889 and the Deering MAP is $669.
76-8191 and 76-8192 Deering (new) “Goodtime 2” resonator-back 5-String banjo, serial numbers ISI1853 and #ISI-1855.
The Gig Bag, she is optional. For each banjo the Deering List price is $699 and the Deering MAP is $529.
76-8190 and 76-8228 Deering (new) Boston 5-String Resonator Banjo, serial numbers M131, and M286, with hard shell case.
For each banjo, the Deering List price is $1979 and the Deering MAP is $1499. Please call or email for our price.
76-8246 Deering (new) Sierra 5-String banjo, serial #M339, with hard shell case.
The Deering List is $2699 and the Deering MAP is $2049. Call for our own pricing.
76-8228 Deering (new) Boston 5-string Resonator Banjo, serial #M286, mahogany neck and resonator with satin lacquer finish, ebony fingerboard, mother of pearl dot inlays, 24-piece flange, and hard shell case.
The Deering 8228list price is $1,979 and the Deering MAP is $1,499 but we are allowed to say that we sell this for less – and emailing or phoning will be the way to find out what we charge.
76-8222 Huber (new) Roanoke Model 5-String Resonator Banjo, serial #308-17, with hard shell case.
The Huber Banjo represents the highest level in modern banjo construction -- like Hebrew National® frankfurters they are designed and manufactured to a higher standard, and that would be the classic flathead banjos of the 1930s. While some banjo makers hint that some aspects of their instruments can be compared to these legendary pre-wars, Huber goes several steps beyond. The components used are either identical to, equal to or better than those that were used in the storied flatheads. They are assembled at a level of attention to detail that requires that each part is perfectly fitted to the others – an ineluctable and crucial detail when one purports to be seeking, say for example, “killer tone.” Although it my be hyperbole to say that new Huber banjos sound like prewar M-words, presently costing $100,000 and more, the good folks at Huber banjos claim (and they may be right) that these banjos sound every bit as good as the way those great vintage banjos of earlier generations sounded when they were new. That’s saying a lot – but you should come over and hear them for yourself (or if you can’t there are sound samples on the Huber Web site). Sammy Shelor says of Huber – “The best sounding new banjo I have ever heard” and he should know. Let’s discuss the Roanoke: It has a walnut neck, a burled walnut resonator (gaw-gis!). It has wood marquetry inlay on said resonator; nickel-plated hardware, the Huber Prewar Replica (HPR) tone ring; it is assembled with hide glue, which is rarely used in instrument construction any more but when you play an instrument that is made with it, you’ll know it. The rim is comprised of three-plies of rock maple; the tone ring is vintage style with a one-piece zinc flange, and the fingerboard is made of Brazilian rosewood (for goodness sake, don’t tell anyone) with the name “Roanoke” inlaid in a block of pearl on the second from the last fret. This banjo, with hard shell case, is $4,227 at our Discount Price and $4,100 at our Cash Discount Price.
76-8140 Huber (new) Berkshire resonator banjo, #308-31, with hard shell case.
Everything we said about the Roanoke above is true of this banjo also, except that it is made with a flame maple neck and resonator, finished to a rich burgundy color; it has the Huber “hearts-and-petals” fingerboard inlay, nickel-plated hardware, white-black-white binding, a Presto tailpiece, the Huber “Vintage Flathead Tone Ring”; it is made utilizing hide glue; it has that three-ply rock maple rim, a rosewood fingerboard, a one-piece die-cast flange, steel coordinator rods, a two-way truss rod, a Huber bridge, Waverly V-2 tuners, and the word “Berkshire” inlaid in a block of pearl on the second from the last fret. Since it has a frosted Mylar head we think that possibly this is what James Taylor is singing about when he says that “The Berkshires seemed dreamlike on account of that frostin’.” This Bluegrass Masterpiece is priced at only $4,098 at our Discount Price, or $3,975 at our Cash Discount Price.
76-8723 Huss & Dalton (new) Singletree Old Time Banjo, serial #B153, with hard shell case.
$1485 at our Discount Price or $1440 at our Cash Discount Price.
76-8145 Stelling (new) Red Fox, #6545, red stained curly maple, nickel plating, with the Tony Pass Old Wood rim, with plush lined hard shell case.
One of Stelling’s more recently introduced models, inspired by master banjoist Bill Emerson, the Red Fox has outsold every other model since its introduction in 1996. Although new models tend to do that, Stelling thinks that this model will join the Staghorn in the banjo hit parade because of its universal appeal and acceptance as a classic banjo design. The fancy curly maple used in this model is enhanced by its reddish stain. The many-colored Red Fox in the peghead and the abalone maple leaves in the fingerboard help to make this striking and seductive. The Stelling List is $4300 but your cost is merely $3325 at our Discount Price, or $3225 at our Cash Discount Price.
76-8702 Stelling (new) Staghorn five-string banjo, a fancy model made from highly figured Claro walnut in the neck and the resonator, utilizing colorful abalone shell inlays and trim.
This example bears serial #6560 and is made with the super-great sounding Tony Pass 600TS Old Wood Rim. It is housed in a deluxe TKL emerald green crushed velvet plush lined case. Per the Stelling site: In 1975, Alan Munde introduced the Stelling banjo to an international audience by playing the second Staghorn ever made with Country Gazette. Since then, this has remained one of the most desired banjo models in the world and has become the trademark model of Stelling Banjo Works. The increasing rarity of the materials such as the highly figured Claro walnut used in the neck and resonator, and the colorful abalone shell out of which the inlays and trim are cut make this one of the ultimate sound investments. Although it Lists for $6300, your cost is only $4,871 at our Discount Price or, at our Cash Discount Price, $4,725
76-8110 Deering (new) Sierra 5-string banjo, #M309, with hard shell case.
The Deering List Price is $2549. Call or email for our price.
78-8065 Stelling (new) Bill Emerson Red Fox Deluxe, #6540, with hard shell case.
Fancy, gold plated. $4871 at our Discount Price, or $4725 at our Cash Discount Price.
78-7992 Deering (new) Sierra, #M169, with hard shell case.
The Deering List Price is $2549. Please call or email for price.
76-8039 Nechville (new) Phantom, #925, Curly maple neck, ebony fingerboard, galaxy inlay, with hard shell case.
$3681 at our Discount Price, or $3570 at our Cash Discount Price.
78-7581 Deering (new) Boston resonator back bluegrass 5-string banjo, #M-082, with plush lined hard shell case.
The Deering List is $1799 and the Deering MAP is $1349.
78-7299 Gibson (used, 2000) Custom Shop Top Tension RB-3, #3-0008-28, in excellent plus condition with original hard shell case.
This is one for the books – Gibson was accepting one-off custom orders back in 2000 and, during that year, a banjo player from central Pennsylvania wanted something unique – an RB-3 with a maple resonator and rim, with a wreath pattern headstock and fingerboard inlay pattern, with a double-cut headstock bearing the prewar Gibson script pearl logo, with a Top Tension bracket assembly! We have never seen another banjo exactly like this. The neck is beautifully executed with the wreath at fret 3, and flourishes of pearl at frets 5,7,10,12,17,19 and 22 against a light East Indian rosewood ivoroid bound fingerboard with grain and color intimations of Brazil. At the 15th fret is a large pearl rectangle etched with the word “Mastertone.” There are railroad nails at frets 7 and 9. The back of the neck is one-piece mahogany, the five geared tuners bear old style large amber buttons similar to what an original prewar Top Tension might have; the armrest, which shows noticeable plating wear from the arm, is Top Tension era style with the adjusting screw on the lower bass side, and the flip-open tailpiece is a replica Presto brand. The back of the one-piece, nicely grained, crème bound resonator is decorated with twin concentric circles of crème-ebony-crème. There are a few places where the crème binding has picked up a red discoloration – possibly from the case although the inside lining of the Gibson logo case isn’t red, it’s black with a black shroud. Or it could, we suppose, be from a strap that’s no longer with it (thankfully). There’s a similar red mark on the bass side of the fretboard at 19th fret. The frets show normal wear and the back of the resonator shows light buckle marks. Overall there are normal signs of playing and string changing. On the whole, except for the frets and the two areas of discoloration, it appears quite clean. As you know, Gibson Top Tension banjos, with their deeper, more concave resonator, are known for increased volume and projection. The notion of making an RB-3 “Wreath” inlay banjo with a Top Tension system is a unique one – we would, ourselves, have never thought of it; it is, as a result, unique and fascinating. This probably one-of-a-kind banjo is available to you for $2881 or, at our cash discount price, $2795.
78-7870 Gold Tone (new) BG-Mini Bluegrass Banjo, #2806035, with a zipper gigbag.
Your cost is only $527 or at our cash discount price $511.
78-7932 Stelling (new) Master’s Cross, #6520, with plush lined hard shell case.
Although the Stelling List is $5800, your cost on this magnificent banjo is only $4485 at our Discount Price or, at our cash discount price, $4350.
78-7347 Kel Kroyden (used, c. 1936) 6-string guitar-banjo, excellent condition, ISI- 1815, housed in a newer Harptone black tolex covered plush lined hard shell case.
Virtually every Kel Kroyden that is not presently a tenor was once a tenor banjo, and was converted to whatever it is now by the judicious application of a replica neck. This one was born a tenor (just like Pavoratti) but around 1968 it was converted to GB – that means Guitar-Banjo – by the addition of a script logo inlaid, double-cut headstock, the Reno pattern (flying eagle) inlaid 21-fret neck with an ebony fingerboard, crème binding on said board, and a Mastertone bell-bronze tone ring. Remember, this banjo retains the yearned-for one-piece flange prewar pot – exactly that pot for which every five-string banjo player on earth craves and raves. A person reading this can only imagine how loud this thing is, but it really is. Wow – is this strong! Quite remarkable really – it could substitute for the church bells in just about every normal-sized church in any suburban neighborhood. (For a cathedral you might need a top tension.) The headplate and back of headstock have crazed nicely – it has an old-looking headstock and there are crazing lines on the back of the one-piece mahogany neck. The resonator is just about perfect, retaining its four-leaf flower or star pattern surrounded in a Deco circle against a background of yellow celluloid (known as yelluloid). The nearly black finished sides of the resonator are themselves bound in crème ivoroid. Three thumb screws hold resonator to the one-piece flange that has the same 23 sequential ‘rectangle shapes with a ‘U’ on each end” that Mastertone banjos have. The head presently on it is “water clear.” The inside of this banjo’s resonator and rim are clean as can be.
We have seen a couple of Kel Kroyden rims that had a serial number, but 95% of them don’t and this one hasn’t. This has the one full-length coordinator rod and one blessed stump. The flange, thumb screws, coordinator rods, brackets, hooks and nuts are original prewar but the tailpiece, armrest and the bridge are newer. Comfortable this is to play, yes, with a generous 1 13/16th” nut width, but the back of the neck is low profile and it’s easy to play. Tuners are newer Planetary style with large pearloid buttons. It has the adjustable truss rod with the bell-shaped plastic cover. held in place by two screws. All that could be original; no tenor neck was provided. Inside the case, along with a used Bill Russell capo and the original card that came with the Harptone resonator banjo case, is a sealed set of “Folklore Center/Fretted Instruments” brand “Spanish Guitar – One Complete Set – Light Gauge” and then the word “Extra” is rubber-stamped, “321 6th Ave., New York, NY 10014.” Does anybody reading this remember Israel G. Young’s The Folklore Center, on the second floor, next to the Waverly Theatre on The Avenue of the Americas? Some of us practically grew up there. This banjo is a throw-back to the distant past, when Mark Silber, Michael Katz, Jonathan Biltchik, Roger Sprung, Marc Horowitz, Eric Weissberg, Steve Arkin and many other New York-based luminaries played real good for free around the fountain (presently being disassembled and moved) at Washington Square Park. We remember the Reverend Gary Davis playing tunes on his guitar-banjo; this instrument reminds us of his iconic sound. If you’re seeking to play a bodacious version of “Dill Pickles Rag” (1906) this is the instrument on which to do it. $6,443 or, at our cash discount price, $6,250.
78-7354 Deering (used, 2005) Sierra, F143, with an added Shubb sliding 5th string capo and housed in a newer black flat top hard shell case.
The weight, from the bell bronze sand cast tone flathead ring, is what gives a fine banjo its distinctive brassy tone and projection. This thoroughly professional but modestly priced instrument has a three-ply maple rim stained a gravy brown, a 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 peg on the side. The peghead is ornamented with a gold decal of "Deering Banjo Company" and an eagle in profile (who asks the audience “Wadda You Lookin’ At?”). Its fingerboard inlays are mother of pearl dots and yet the sound is thrilling and chilling. $1438 or, at our cash discount price, $1395
78-7487 Deering (new) Crossfire, electric 5-string banjo, #L738, black, housed in a Delta- or Ultralite-style zipper closure semi-hard case.
The Deering List is $3389 and calling us for our discount and cash discount price is highly recommended. There is much to learn.
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.
78-7214 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.
78-7037 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.
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(sold) 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.
15-6525 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.
15-6194 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.
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.
83-6402 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.
