Zither banjo help

[carrie horgan]

I'm going on holiday to Kent in a few weeks and noticed on Ebay that there is a Zither banjo near where I am staying.  I wondered what you make of the condition of the fretboard - the inlays are good but the fretboard looks 'dry' in places - would it just need oiling or would it need more work?  Again I am blaming Rob MacKillop for my interest.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-string-zither-banjo-by-George-Houghton...

[David Wade]

Carrie, How many do you want - I have several copies you are welcome one gratis at Clowne

carrie horgan said:

Thanks Marc - I will check that out.  

Yes, Ebay can be hard to read - when I saw 'make offer' I thought they would be open to lower offers.  

Sometimes sellers can be a little unrealistic (this needs to go in the bin!):  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ellis-Thorough-School-For-Banjo-By-Herbe...

[David Wade]

Carrie, I would not recommend going any higher that £250 - there are plenty of good z-bs too be got for around that sort of money. Having said that it could be worth asking them to take a photo of it turned on its side so we can see the action at the 12th.

carrie horgan said:

Thanks Rob - I can't make any more offers so have put a bid in and will watch this space! I think it runs until Friday.

[Trapdoor2]

Definitely a good bit money for a scrap of kindling. I think you can download that Ellis tutor from the tutor page here also.

carrie horgan said:

Thanks Marc - I will check that out.  

Yes, Ebay can be hard to read - when I saw 'make offer' I thought they would be open to lower offers.  

Sometimes sellers can be a little unrealistic (this needs to go in the bin!):  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ellis-Thorough-School-For-Banjo-By-Herbe...

[carrie horgan]

Actually, I have the Ellis tutor (in good condition!) - but thanks for the kind offer David - I just thought it was funny that someone would try and sell a book for £15 in such condition! I will ask the ZB seller if they can post a side photo to check the string action.  Thanks.

[Richard William Ineson]

The book could be a health hazard

carrie horgan said:

Thanks Marc - I will check that out.  

Yes, Ebay can be hard to read - when I saw 'make offer' I thought they would be open to lower offers.  

Sometimes sellers can be a little unrealistic (this needs to go in the bin!):  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ellis-Thorough-School-For-Banjo-By-Herbe...

[Richard William Ineson]

It looks like one of Houghton's top models, this Birmingham banjo maker made banjos for a lot of different banjo companies apart from selling banjos under his own name. This one looks like a really nice quality instrument and like all zither banjos at present is remarkable value for money.

[Trapdoor2]

That's less than $320 US...for a very nice looking instrument. I suspect that having it shipped here would still keep it to less than $500. If is in as good a shape as it looks, I'd say well bought.

Besides, it has a British style case...I need one for my Windsor #1 and have been thinking about making one. I need one for a template!

[carrie horgan]

Here is a side-view the seller sent me - what do we think about the string action? 

[Richard William Ineson]

Hard to say, the photograph is not too clear, but it's a lot of banjo for little money, I'd take a gamble on it.

carrie horgan said:

Here is a side-view the seller sent me - what do we think about the string action? 

[marc dalmasso]

you need a picture of the action at the 18 to 22 th frets ; usually , when the neck is warped , the action is lower at these frets than  on the middle of the neck figured on this photo

[carrie horgan]

Thank you Richard and Marc.  Here are two more photos he sent me.  So, the string action is higher near the 22 fret so that would mean the neck is not warped?  The photos show the banjo has high-ish action but not so that it is unplayable?  

[carrie horgan]