Can you identify this banjo?

[Steve Denholm]

I was given an old banjo recently that belonged to my sister in laws late husband. I would like to get it restored so that I can learn to play it but I have no information about how it should be set up etc. 

From what I have been able find out online, it is possibly a six or seven string instrument? It is beautifully made and is good condition. All the hardware is there although the saddle and nut have been replaced but rather crudely. The back of the bowl has a very attractive carved design but an area near the heel of the neck has a missing inlay I think.

I can’t see any visible makers mark but would love to find out more about this instrument. Also where I might get it repaired and set up so that it can be played.I have been watching various people playing similar banjos on YouTube and I think that as a finger style guitar player used to playing in G tuning that I could hopefully migrate over reasonably easily.

I hope that one of you can tell me more about this lovely instrument, I am guessing that it is from the early1900s?

I recently found an old instruction book in a charity bookshop which is clearly for a similar instrument. The Herbert J. Ellis Thorough School Six or Seven String Banjo. It is remarkably detailed and has a fold out illustration of a seven string banjo neck showing all of the notes! 

Thanks

[Byron Thomas]

Wow what a beautiful instrument! What you have is a 7-string banjo. These were only popular for a few decades before they fell out favor. For your banjo, I do recommend fitting your strings with a proper 7 string set from Clifford Essex. From what I can see in the photo, it looks to be fitted with wire stings which renders many a banjo unplayable from this era by either bowing the neck or obliterating the tailpiece. It seems like the original tailpiece fell prey to such actions. They are way to heavy and should be removed. The neck should be parallel with the top of the pot. As for finding the maker's mark it may be underneath the head. British banjos went through a period where the makers would hide their names on the dowel rod. The book that you found is a great foundation for learning the 7-string banjo. The other one is Ballentine's method which is available in the Banjo Tutor Book on here. If you can reach him, Michael Nix is also a great resource for learning this instrument.

[Steve Denholm]

Thanks for your reply Byron, it is most helpful.

You are right about the steel strings, the empty packets I found in the case are for an electric guitar. Fortunately they are not up to tension so hopefully no harm done. I will order a 7 string set from Clifford Essex as you suggest.

I know a couple of people who make and repair banjos so once I have the replacement strings I will get them to have a look at the banjo and get it playable. I wonder if they will have seen a nano like this before? Then I can take on the challenge of learning to play it!

Thanks again.

[Jody Stecher]

The usual setup for a zither-banjo with 5 stings is for strings 1, 2, and 5 (the short one) to be very light gauge steel. The third is gut or nylon and the 4th is something like a wound lute string or classical guitar string. My best guess is that the two extra strings on this banjo would also be wound: sliver or copper around a very thin wire core which itself is wrapped with silk or nylon fibers.  For it to have a typical zither-banjo tone (which can be heard in the music library here) the short string and the first two strings should very light steel. That being the case, the electric guitar strings *might* make sense. 

The Clifford Essex 7 string banjo set is probably intended for a regular open-back back banjo. And for that the nylon trebles make perfect sense.

[IAN SALTER]

I haven't read this discussion again, but think it should be relevant to this one.

https://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/new-arrival?id=2667446%...