camm vibrante on ebay

[Jody Stecher]

There's a Cammeyer Vibrante on ebay with less than the usual shrinkage to the veneer on the back. Unfortunately the seller is over optimistic about its value. I don't think anyone will bid at his starting price. But maybe the second time around the price will come down. worth a look anyway.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=37081634...

[thereallyniceman]

Hmmm, Seems a bit too beaten up for the price that is being asked. I would say £300 -£400 was nearer the value. I am not a fan of Zither banjos as I pick too hard (not the banjos fault I know!), but I can't get a decent sound out of one somehow.

I bought  a Vibrante many years ago, but sold it almost immediately (unseen) to a man in the Isle of Man. I wonder what happened to that one as it was in 100% beautiful condition?

[Jody Stecher]

Most veneered Camms I've seen, especially the Vibrante and Patent models suffer from shrinkage and dried out glue. . Usually the binding and veneers come off in places. It's often worse than this one.  The later Vibrante Royal models, made after 1939 by Sidney Young seem to stay together better.

 I'd say £400 is too low for a Vibrante. One went for just under £1000 in april.  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAMMEYER-VIBRANTE-ZITHER-BANJO-/151022720...

But for one needing work  the price is way too high.

[thereallyniceman]

Gosh £980.. that is "real" money for a ZB. I have not kept in touch with prices.

I don't like lifted veneer, particularly badly replaced, lifted veneer. Was it too wet... has it been too dry? What other gluey bits are falling apart? 

[Jody Stecher]

Lower model Windsors are still "cheaply" (the opposite of costly).  Wood shrinkage seems to occur when insufficiently seasoned wood is used. Instead of drying (and shrinking) as logs and boards, the shrinkage occurs over a multi-decade period as a banjo, with unfortunate results. Many older Cammeyer banjos are seen with the celluloid binding coming unstuck. Sometimes celluloid or other plastics starts to self-combust over time. I've seen some hideous buttons on Gibson guitar tuners like this. But I think on the Camms it is a glue issue. Whatever they used stopped being sticky. I don't know why.  Lifted veneer seems to be typical of older Camms and also of the "rim cap" of AA Farland banjos.  Those are wood and I think they may have used insufficiently seasoned timber.

thereallyniceman said:

Gosh £980.. that is "real" money for a ZB. I have not kept in touch with prices.

I don't like lifted veneer, particularly badly replaced, lifted veneer. Was it too wet... has it been too dry? What other gluey bits are falling apart? 

[David Wade]

These are silly money prices....Ivor Maraints managed to make a grand on a Vibrante a couple of years ago, Steve Noon failed! There were at least two on stalls at the Clowne Rally - both in better condition than these, one was a Camm and the other a Sydney Young.

[Jody Stecher]

What were the asking  prices on these?  "Silly money" is a great expression. Might make a good title for a banjo solo. Or for a racehorse. Or both if one happens to be Joe Morley.

David Wade said:

These are silly money prices....Ivor Maraints managed to make a grand on a Vibrante a couple of years ago, Steve Noon failed! There were at least two on stalls at the Clowne Rally - both in better condition than these, one was a Camm and the other a Sydney Young.