Special XX For Sale

[John Cohen]

One of you should go rescue this Special XX!  It's a steal for 600 pounds.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/banjos/clifford-essex-special-xx-5-string-...

[Jody Stecher]

I wonder what the seller means by a "split in the tone ring". That would be hard to do. Maybe something else is split. I don't know what to make of the dark wood (rosewood?) neck and the light wood rim. A Frankenbanjo?….made from 2 different XX banjos?  I wonder what is meant by "fingerboards".   The metal needs attention from Ian!

[Trapdoor2]

Dang...

The neck and pot look so odd together. I would guess (without any knowledge) that it is a frankenbanjo too.

I love the inlay pattern. Please, someone tell me authoritatively that this is a frankenbanjo. Better yet, someone else buy it. I can't. :-( 

[John Cohen]

This isn't the first Special XX I've seen with a rosewood neck and maple rim, but I can't say for sure whether it is franken or not.  Even if it is, I think it's still a good deal at the asking price.  I just spent my banjo budget on a new minstrel banjo- otherwise I would have gotten it.  My thin-rimmed Concert Grand still floors me every time I pick it up and play it.

[thereallyniceman]

I have seen several Special XX banjos made with rosewood necks and maple rims (I even played one a couple of weeks ago). They do look odd, but are original.

Split tone ring?...my guess would be that the resonator is split, as they all do, but that has a badly fit aftermarket bracket and could go in the bin as they are better as open backed banjos anyway!

The add is old and if this banjo is still available I would eat my hat!

Jody is right, though... the metalwork does need a little of my attention :-)

[Jody Stecher]

The seller means "resonator" ! That sounds plausible. It's something one can see. I had a student who thought the rim/pot was what was meant by "resonator". The ad appears to be 18 days old and is placed on a relatively obscure website (compared to eBay). There is no "sold" notice. Seems to me it *might* still be for sale.

thereallyniceman said:

I have seen several Special XX banjos made with rosewood necks and maple rims (I even played one a couple of weeks ago). They do look odd, but are original.

Split tone ring?...my guess would be that the resonator is split, as they all do, but that has a badly fit aftermarket bracket and could go in the bin as they are better as open backed banjos anyway!

The add is old and if this banjo is still available I would eat my hat!

Jody is right, though... the metalwork does need a little of my attention :-)

[John Cohen]

Exactly!  Somebody go save this thing!

Jody Stecher said:

The seller means "resonator" ! That sounds plausible. It's something one can see. I had a student who thought the rim/pot was what was meant by "resonator". The ad appears to be 18 days old and is placed on a relatively obscure website (compared to eBay). There is no "sold" notice. Seems to me it *might* still be for sale.

thereallyniceman said:

I have seen several Special XX banjos made with rosewood necks and maple rims (I even played one a couple of weeks ago). They do look odd, but are original.

Split tone ring?...my guess would be that the resonator is split, as they all do, but that has a badly fit aftermarket bracket and could go in the bin as they are better as open backed banjos anyway!

The add is old and if this banjo is still available I would eat my hat!

Jody is right, though... the metalwork does need a little of my attention :-)

[Trapdoor2]

The pound is dropping off quite a bit compared to the dollar lately...might be a good time to buy!