Classic-Banjo
A Site Dedicated to all enthusiasts of Classic Style Banjo
THE "C.E. SPECIAL" IN AUCTION.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Trapdoor2
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All I gotta say is that my Special is the best banjo I've ever owned. Full stop!
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Permalink Reply by TONY BRYAN
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I can't argue with the merits of the CE Special - I wouldn't part with mine. But bitter experience has taught me that buying any instrument on line is a very risky business. I am just not interested in any instrument that I can't pick up, look over and - ideally - tune up and play. I would estimate that half of my on-line buys have been unplayable by any serious player. They are mostly too warped to tune properly, the action has become impossibly high and can't be adjusted, the original frets have been replaced with guitar gauge frets or the refretting has just been badly done (one otherwise acceptable genuine Weaver was originally fretless and had been refretted with what looked like random or very approximate fret spacings - ruined!).
If this one is available for viewing (in Cambridge?) we could all benefit from someone going over there and giving it the once-over. Any volunteers?
Regards
Tony
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Permalink Reply by IAN SALTER
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It is a pity that only two photos of the banjo were used in the catalogue listing. I haven't dealt with this auction house but I have requested and received additional photos of banjos, from other auctioneers and also verbal descriptions of some specific details. I passed on some and won others, all of which were quite playable. Perhaps it would be worth asking about this C.E. if anyone is interested in it.
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It also comes with an egregious buyer's fee of 30%, plus ~35% VAT! Then there's shipping... The auction houses here tend towards 15%.
I would worry more about getting it adequately packed for shipment. I received a ZB once that was simply loose in a cardboard box. How it survived the trip from the UK to the US is a mystery.
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