Classic-Banjo
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John Grey and Sons?
This instrument is currently on eBay.uk. I've not found any pictures of other John Grey banjos with an open head stock, six tuners and a 5th string tunnel. The name is engraved on the arm rest.
I've asked the seller for more photos, but he says he is away until the auction ends and is unable to oblige. However, he says it's a working banjo, plays perfectly with no fret buzzing and no effort required to fret along the entire fingerboard.
Whilst I'm not desperate to have it, it looks to be a tidy banjo and is only about 30 minutes drive away from me, for the 'collection in person only' stipulation.
Does anyone recognise it as a Grey made piece, or could it be that the arm rest was added to a different make? Maybe a separately made neck attached to a Grey body? When does it look like it was made?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by IAN SALTER on
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The trademark of John Grey and Sons was introduced in 1911.
There are only a couple of references to John Grey and Sons on here and then only to the 'Benares' model. Has anyone played any other banjos from the company?
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Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on
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i have played 3 or 4 John Gray banjos and seen photos of half a dozen more. All were peculiar, None sounded bad or good. They were "ok". This one is peculiar enough to be a Grey. 14 tuning hooks? Is this a miniature banjo?
Right now I found 16 John Grey banjos on eBay.uk and each is different from the others. I don't see the one you are contemplating buying though,
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Hi Jody, it's listed as 'Banjo Built By John Grey and Sons London' with a starting price of £50. There are no bids so far, with 2 hours left.
It only has 19 frets, which, together with the slotted head, I thought might be unusual on a twentieth century banjo. I reckon it's a slightly earlier instrument with the engraved arm rest and maybe the resonator added later on.
As I said, it's not that I'm desperate to have it, but really just curious. If it doesn't get any bids, I might take a chance for that money and a short drive to collect it.
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I found it but now, 11 hours later, the auction is listed as ending in 6 days and some hours.
IAN SALTER said:Hi Jody, it's listed as 'Banjo Built By John Grey and Sons London' with a starting price of £50. There are no bids so far, with 2 hours left.
It only has 19 frets, which, together with the slotted head, I thought might be unusual on a twentieth century banjo. I reckon it's a slightly earlier instrument with the engraved arm rest and maybe the resonator added later on.
As I said, it's not that I'm desperate to have it, but really just curious. If it doesn't get any bids, I might take a chance for that money and a short drive to collect it.
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I decided not to go for it and nobody bid, so he has put it on again.
What I'm really looking for is an early, lower end model, zither banjo. There have been quite a lot of zither banjos on eBay recently, but nothing yet, that fits the bill.
If anyone on the forum, in the UK has one that is not being used, I'd be interested in hearing about it.
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