Available 19th Century Banjos

[Joel Hooks]

So I have been sort of shopping around with the idea of getting a new (old) jo.

I will have to take a gamble and buy mail order. Dallas is saturated with guitar shops, and you can find banjos if you play "real banjo music" (bluegrass).

Looking a Bernunzio's I was checking out these.

http://www.bernunzio.com/item.php?sku=0811774

http://www.bernunzio.com/item.php?sku=0812823

http://www.bernunzio.com/item.php?sku=0812827

http://www.bernunzio.com/item.php?sku=0913138

If the Lewis is full sized then that might be the coolest pending condition. The Schall is a bit overkill.

What other places should I check out.

I'd love a Stewart Thoroughbred, but finding one ready to go may be a trick. I also don't think that they are worth what people want.

It's got to have friction tuners and skin head. Apart from nylon strings, I don't want modern components.

[Jody Stecher]

A couple of hours ago I posted a reply including several websites selling 19th century banjos and a lead on a ss stewart thoroughbred. It now seems to have vanished. Has Joel or anyone else seen it? I'll post again if it doesn't show up.

[Jody Stecher]

Assuming my original reply is lost in cyberspace, here again are some more sellers of 19th century banjos:

http://www.retrofret.com/

http://www.vintageinstruments.com/

http://www.guitarandbanjo.com/

http://www.themusicemporium.com/

I also have a friend who was wanting to sell his dad's SS Stewart Thoroughbred a few months ago. I can make inquiries if you like.

Maybe this post will survive this time. Here goes, CLICK.......

[Dan Colombo]

Hello,
I just moved down to the Dallas-area myself (from Rochester, NY of all places, where Bernunzio's is). I've played a couple of those banjos; the Lewis is probably the most playable among them, but it doesn't have a spun-over wood rim so it's not the loudest banjo. They're really knowledgeable over there, so you can always give them a call and they'll give you a straight-up opinion. (Full disclosure: I used to work there--it's banjo heaven (or hell, depending on your point of view).) Hey, so send me a message or something if you're looking for someone to play 2nd parts,

Best

Dan

[marc dalmasso]

did you check the black J S Schall ? ; on the picture , it look s like the neck was twisted ?

[Dan Colombo]

I don't think I got a chance to play the Schall when I was up there. . .really nice looking rig though. Incidentally, if you check the "New this week" section of the website under 5-strings, there's a fantastic looking Waldo for about $1650. Brazilian rosewood neck.

[Joel Hooks]

Thanks for all the input and leads. Extra thanks to my new friend Jody for just being cool.

After a nice phone conversation and lots of more pics I decided on this...

http://www.banjohangout.org/classifieds/detail.asp?cid=9655

It is a monster, but ready to go. All I need to find now is a proper C.S. tailpiece.

I saw the Waldo and considered it, but for some reason right now I am stuck on a Stewart. Good thing I am young. I've got plenty of banjo buying years in front of me.

Also, this way I can afford to get a new carpet bag from the Carpetbagger to carry my music, stand, bones, tambo, and other goodies.

[Jody Stecher]

Dan Colombo said:

if you check the "New this week" section of the website under 5-strings, there's a fantastic looking Waldo for about $1650. Brazilian rosewood neck.

yup, that's what I call a pretty banjo. That rosewood neck is the good old stuff. Bet it sounds good too.

[Jody Stecher]

deuceswilde said:

All I need to find now is a proper C.S. tailpiece. OK, I'll take the bait. What's a C.S. tailpiece?

[Joel Hooks]

Sorry,

"common-sense"

[Jody Stecher]

It looks like it's got a new style No Knot. I've never minded them. Got one on my Bacon and another on a Farland. Some people don't like them. I'm not sure why. The nicest new tailpiece I know of was designed by Will Fielding.

http://www.willfielding.com/tailpieces.html

I especially like the unplated brass ones. I'll try to post a jpeg within this message. This website doesn't always do what I expect it to. Photo might end up someplace else. Here goes:

[Jody Stecher]

On second look, the Waldo looks to be a Schall. The only Schall I ever played sounded like cardboard but folks say they can sound good. Any one here ever owned or played a Schall or Waldo?

[marc dalmasso]

Wal_do you think ? Schall you buy ?

Jody , my friend from Munich came to see this forum and he told me has your " up the mountain " CD .