Three Octave Necks.

[Joel Hooks]

So, when did they become the norm?

Stewart does not seem to offer them standard until the late 90s... well, the cuts and many pics show 19 frets, while Farland is holding a 3 octave in the mid 90s.  His "20th Century" seems to have had 22 from the start.

FBC gives a layout for 22 frets in the "ABM."

My Buckbee "Dobson" has 19, SSS Orchestra 13" has 18 (rim size drops a fret), and my S&B has 22.

Anyone looked into this?

Maybe a dumb question, but would it not need to be 24 frets to make a true "three octave neck?"

[Trapdoor2]

Interesting question, Joel. I think you get 3 octaves with 22 frets...using "low bass" tuning, ie., c - c'" (C-below middle-C to the second C above middle-C). I think I got that right...Heimholtz's notation is sometimes hard for me to sort out (middle C = c' in Heimholtz notation). C3 to C6 is another way to do it (with middle-C being C4).

Anyway, I don't recall seeing a 22-fret banjo from before the 1890's. Both my Stewart Orchestras (one is ca. 1889) are 19 fret (12" rim). A quick review of the banjos featured on the "Bill's Banjos" site appears to back that up. The earliest 22 fret Fairbanks I saw was from 1899 but there is a Stewart Special Thoroughbred from 1895...

http://www.billsbanjos.com/Stewartno4.htm

[Joel Hooks]

Oh yeah, I guess I should have looked at the chart I posted A to A clear as day.

Around 90 is what I was thinking too, but again that Converse chart. Could it be that it was something only "pros" got to have?

There are also many later credited banjos with 19 fret necks.

I wonder who we could credit with coming up with it.