Classic-Banjo
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Need help picking out my next (first) classic banjo
My budget is firmly sub $800 I have to keep it there.
So I've been working my way through the Pink Book, and am seriously just a bedroom player, I wont be playing out (because nobody I know plays classic music, and I don't have the desire to really)
If any of you were in my position, what would be your choice?
https://www.banjohangout.org/classified/108561
https://www.banjohangout.org/classified/107856
https://www.banjohangout.org/classified/107809
https://bernunzio.com/product/unsigned-schall-115-27-31184/
https://reverb.com/item/85794450-ca-1901-jb-schall-waldo-5-string-b...
https://reverb.com/item/86366416-s-s-stewart-princess-5-string-banj...
https://reverb.com/item/84176470-john-grey-sons-5-string-banjo-c-w-...
Much obliged, Ad
Views: 165
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher
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Both SS Stewart's look promising. I would not want the Benary. The one at the top of your list has an appealing price but don't know how it sounds.
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Permalink Reply by Joel Hooks
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Just my opinions, not worth the paper written on...
https://www.banjohangout.org/classified/108561
hard pass. Cheap banjo, altered dowel, thick shim.
https://www.banjohangout.org/classified/107856pass- not the original neck or any of the rim hardware. You would be getting a SSS rim only, and the rest was built for wire strings.
https://www.banjohangout.org/classified/107809meh, this is a small banjo, and cleary something has been done to the dowel to put a large back angle to the neck, I'd pass. Might be serviceable in the $150-$200 range as a second banjo provided the neck angle can be reestablished to zero.
https://bernunzio.com/product/unsigned-schall-115-27-31184/Could be serviceable, all the plating has been removed from the rim and hardware by "polishing". Seems a little high on cost and expect the unexpected from bernunzio, they are not great about fully describing everything.
https://reverb.com/item/85794450-ca-1901-jb-schall-waldo-5-string-b...Waldo banjos were made from Schall parts and, I believe, were assembled by not Schall. This looks rough and there is something funny going on with the dowel end. The peghead looks to be peeling apart. Also, wire strings, so I'm not sure.
https://reverb.com/item/86366416-s-s-stewart-princess-5-string-banj...This is a weird listing, the description describes a Champion size banjo but the title claims "American Princess"-- which is it? If it is actually 11.5 (the scale would be 27.5" not the claimed 27") then this might be okay. I'd need to see a lot more photos, including where the dowel meets the rim, the heel fit, all around the peghead, clear images of the frets with the strings moved to the side. You will have to change the head, so consider the not normal head size (if it is a Champion).
If it is an American Princess, then it will be very small. Might be good for a second banjo or novelty, but I would recommend at least an 11" banjo for daily playing.
https://reverb.com/item/84176470-john-grey-sons-5-string-banjo-c-w-...This is quirky and kinda cool. Presume that the binding is loose and will need to be repaired or replaced based on the signs of fingerboard shrinkage. It might need other work too.
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Permalink Reply by IAN SALTER
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Hi Adam,
I found this on the USA eBay site. It looks ok and the description sounds good, although the postage from UK would have to be worked out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/267161352495?_skw=banjo&itmmeta=01JMFQ...
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This has been "scooped".
IAN SALTER said:Hi Adam,
I found this on the USA eBay site. It looks ok and the description sounds good, although the postage from UK would have to be worked out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/267161352495?_skw=banjo&itmmeta=01JMFQ...
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Well spotted Joel. Scratch that Adam.
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Dang scoopers!!
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But do you really need more than 17 frets?
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I’m sure that I probably might not at this point. 😂
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I think it's a question that divides opinions and it does depend on what tunes you will play. I'm fairly sure that 17 is enough for most of the breakdowns, jigs and hornpipes in these two fabulous books
https://archive.org/details/turners60jigs/page/n2/mode/1up?view=the...
https://archive.org/details/turners101selectedbreakdownsjigshornpip...
I've had hours of good fun playing on my 17 fret ordinary banjo.
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That Wurlitzer was discussed on BHO 5 years ago
https://www.banjohangout.org/archive/368663
Its definitely not the best old banjo that you will find, but it's not expensive and does come with that case. I'd like to have it.
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Just came across these this morning…
https://reverb.com/item/87350559-weymann-5-string-banjo-c-1900-s
https://reverb.com/item/87351436-orpheum-no-1-5-string-banjo
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The Weymann is small, 10-3/4" x 26". While it looks fine, It is hard to tell from just the photos if the neck set has been messed with. Too bad about the gear pegs, these can make this style of banjo neck heavy. If you can live with a small banjo as a daily player, then get it. I had one of those Eastman WL copies and it was a very fine banjo, extremely well crafted, I sold it because of the size, it was just too small for me. That 1/4" made more difference than I thought it would when I bought it.
The thing with many orpheum banjos is that the fingerboards are not ebony but ebonized maple that was treated with an acid iron solution to blacken it. These all turn to dust eventually. The frets on this one look pretty flat and suspiciously absent is a photo of the frets in the first position. I'd want a hard case included at that price.
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