1931 Bacon & Day Silver Bell #3 Tenor Banjo

This glorious example has all the sparkling tonality and visual beauty associated with Bacon & Day at the height of the “golden age” of banjo manufacture during the depths of the Great Depression.

The sound is crisp and clear, with enough punch to drive any jazz ensemble with extraordinary power. If that power is more than you desire, there is the original knee-lever mute allowing the player to reduce volume.

The ornately carved neck and rim are white holly, with an elegant pearloid heel cap. The pearloid trimmed resonator features an etched eight point compass surrounded by intricate designs of leaves, flowers and lyres. The pearloid fret board has ten separate engraved designs leading to the pearloid peg head overlay featuring the B&D Montana logo surrounded by inlaid rhinestones.

All metal parts are original and gold plated with “B&D Silver Bell No. 3” engraved on the arm rest. The four original gold plated double band Grover tuning machines with their mother-of-pearl  buttons are present and much sought after.

This instrument is rumored to have been owned by the “Wizard of the Strings”  Roy Smeck, but without any physical provenance, we make no such claim here. stk#VGB5008


$3500 with original hard case

For more photos, click on “additional information”