new Bacon and Day Silverbelle 5 String

[skip sail]

Just got back from driving 2400 klm to do some interesting banjo trades with an eccentric banjo hermit up in the hills.

One thing i picked up is this 1925 Silver belle 5 string. Absolutely beautiful fingerstyle banjo,stunning tonal quality. The banjo is very original,even has the knee mute in the case!

[skip sail]

[thereallyniceman]

I love the Silver Bell banjos.  I had an early 1923 tenor and had a 5 string neck made for it. Great banjo, but no knee mute, only the hole!!

What model is it Skip, 1 or 2? It looks to be in excellent condition and his the nice Oettinger tail piece too.

Mine had the small round holes on the flange, not the F holes and it had  an SB tone ring with holes inside and outside. It was also VERY VERY heavy with a solid thick maple resonator.

I hope it was worth the trip... we all know that it was  ;-)

[skip sail]

Its a #1,apparently harder to find than some of the more ornate models in a 5 string.  According to Polle Flanoe,these were often strung with gut and played classical style,cant wait to try it.

Also picked up a late 20s Tubaphone #3 5 string in exc cond,and a lovely Stewart special thoroughbred.

[Jody Stecher]

Wow, Skip, congratulations. How many dozen lesser banjos did you have to give in trade for these?  I've seen any number of Silver Bell tenors and plectrums and a handful of Montana five strings but only 3 original Silver Bell five strings, all in the 1960s, all of which were outstanding, at least I thought so at the time.

[skip sail]

I traded my two high end Temletts for it,they were beautiful banjos but my hamfisted style couldnt really do them justice,and they went to a very good home. We never really own these things,we are just temporary caretakers.

[Mike Moss]

Wow, what an amazing-looking banjo, I bet it sounds as good as it looks. Have you tried the knee mute on it yet? I've never heard a fingerstyle 'jo with the knee mute (I have listened to Perry Bechtel playing plectrum on a Bacon and Day with a mute, though) but it is required for some solos.

[skip sail]

I havnt attached the knee mute yet,it looks as though it projects perilously close to the old tacklebox.

It is one of the best sounding banjos i own.