Please Click On Any Picture For High Resolution View.
Banjos
1. GIBSON TB2 CONVERSION 5 STRING BANJO Circa 1930’s (NOT FOR SALE)
The original owner triple gold plated the metal parts including the original
one piece flange which is uniformly curled and fits snuggly above the lip
of the resonator. Currently fitted with a Price tailpiece and a modern matching
armrest. Original machine heads, original cut rim fitted with a triple gold
plated Huber tone ring. This 5 string conversion Walnut neck (maker unknown)
has a Rosewood fingerboard with a fancy Florentine style inlay pattern.
The neck matches well with the original walnut finish. Originally repaired
tenor neck. Modern HSC $6,750.
2. VINTAGE GIBSON TB11 CONVERSION 5 STRING BANJO
Circa 1930’s excellent plus condition. Huber flat head tone ring . This is the cleanest TB11 pot I have ever seen. The hardware is all original including the original one piece flange, which is as shinny and flat as any I have ever come across.Conversion neck is to Frank Neat specifications TKL American Vintage Tweed HSC $4,900.00
3. RALPH STANLEY 1923 LUDWIG 5 STRING CONVERSION BANJO.
All original excellent condition. This is one great sounding 5 string banjo. One can immediately tell why Ralph liked it so much. It has the signature Stanley archtop tone. The neck is a faithful recreation of the original tenor neck, built of course by the great Frank Neat. The original sales receipt is pictured, as are 3 great pictures of Ralph playing this banjo in his tour bus. HSC $4,900.
4. FAIRBANKS VEGA IMPERIAL 'ELECTRIC' FIVE STRING BANJO #34692 CIRCA 1915.
This was the model that the Vega Whyte Laydie was based on. The 10.5 inch head produces incredible tone and hence is the most popular size head. It also includes the pie shaped flush screw on resonator. Excellent condition, all original. HSC. $3,700. 00
5. Gibson RB-3 1927 No-Hole Tone Ring Ser. # 8705-9
Near Mint Condition OHSC
This museum quality original Gibson 5-string banjo is one of two or possibly
three examples of the Gibson RB-3 no hole arch-top tone ring. The condition
is superb and the banjo is something that could pass as being something made
in the new millennium. The finish and hardware is original as is the skin
head which gives this banjo a tone which rivals the late 1940’s Earl Scruggs
Colombia recordings. It has often been said that the singularly unique 1927
no hole arch top tone ring, in conjunction with an ever so slightly loosened
skin head sounds as close to an original Gibson flathead as ‘pig is to poke’.
The original hard shell case is the cleanest example on the market. $29,000.
6. Weymann Orchestra Model Style 2 Model 5 String Banjo (1920's), made in Philadelphia, PA, serial # 32205
Natural varnish finish, laminated maple neck, rim and resonator, black hard shell case.
The Style 2 Orchestra model was only the second model up in Weymann's Megaphonic professional line, but is absolutely a top quality, fancy banjo. The Style 2 retailed originally at the not inconsiderable sum of $225.00 in 1928. It features the company's patented megaphonic rim with the hooks running through it, the most elegant of 1920's banjo designs. Like all Weymann banjos, this is an extremely finely-made instrument with the company's customary attention to detail evident everywhere. The neck is laminated maple with multiple wood laminates through the center, at the heelcap and under the fingerboard. The ebony fretboard is inlaid with fancy shaped pearl and bound in grained ivoroid. The headstock overlay carries an intricate inlaid of elaborate floral design. The pop-off resonator is nicely figured maple with binding on both edges, the rim top is capped in rosewood . This is a beautifully crafted, great sounding and extremely classy 5 String banjo.
An adjustable truss rod was installed in this neck by retired luthier Chris Burkov, so that this neck will never have a problem with warping as many of the old necks do. Light play wear overall; a very good playing and sounding banjo. Excellent Condition. Jerry Garcia's favorite banjo was a maple version of the same model. HSC $4,900
7. GIBSON GB3 GUITAR BANJO 1926 SERIAL # 8163-48 ALL ORIGINAL EXCELLENT CONDITION.
The Gibson GB3 guitar banjo is the Rolls Royce of guitar banjos. Nothing can touch them in terms of pure tone. The Loyd Loar designed, ball bearing spring activated, tone ring works better in these than they did on the 5 strings. I just had it professionally re-fretted with medium/jumbo fret wire and it plays beautifully. The back of the neck has been oversprayed, otherwise original finish. OHSC $5,700
8. GIBSON TB5 CONVERSION 1926 Serial Number 8227-9 Excellent Condition
This banjo is a stellar example of the best of the ball bearing tonerings. It has that sweet yet fat tone that one looks for in a great ball bearing banjo. It has none of the harshness of tone often found in the ball bearing models. Adding to the tone is the use of an untraditional Ebony fingerboard , rather than Rosewood with traditional style five inlays. The combination of the walnut neck and ebony fingerboard produces a sharp defined tone, and the intonation is perfect all the way up the neck. The neck builder is unknown and sadly there is not an original tenor neck. TKL Vintage series case is included. $8,900.
9. GIBSON TB11 CONVERSION 5 STRING BANJO, FRANK NEAT NECK, HUBER TONERING, ORIGINAL ONE PIECE FLANGE AND ALL ORIGINAL METAL PARTS. EXCELLENT CONDITION.
This is a great one with the original peghead overlay, a beautiful Brazilian Rosewood board, and 2 new Keith D tuners. Even though I have 2 more you better get this one before I change my mind. New professional TKL Lacquered Tweed Vintage series case. $4,900.
10. Goldstar 1976 This is one of the rarest models of the vintage Goldstar Banjos. Although, Goldstar produced numerous Maple 40 hole Archtops, they produced extremely few Mahogony 40 hole archtops. This model was made in 1976, and is one year before Goldstar began using serial numbers on their instruments. The tuners have been upgraded with another make of planetary tuners. HSC $1,700.
For inquiries, please email howieblues@earthlink.net, and include your phone number - we will contact you as quickly as we can.
howieblues@earthlink.net