$2,000

The Maple Ridge model features a three piece laminate maple neck with two way adjustable truss rod, 12" diameter 3/8 inch thick maple rim, Dobson tone ring, 25.5 scale ebony fretboard, dots with star inlay, frailing scoop, antiqued brass hardware, Gotoh tuners, and a 12" Rickard Renaissance head. This example is in great condition with no fret wear to note!

Includes its original hard shell case.

Model: Maple Ridge 12"
Finish: Black
SKU: BJ27-A
Original Finish: Yes
Original Parts: Yes
Handedness: Right
Made In Year: 2015 - 2020
Dowel Stick: 3 ply Maple/Ebony/Maple
Scale Length: 25.5"
Nut Width: 1.35"
Head: Rickard Renaissance
Tone Ring: Maple
Weight: 5.8lbs
Case: OHSC

Purchased in 2022. Great sound, signed by Jd. I have pictures.

Built in Michigan, these banjos are inspired by Gibson banjos of the late 40s through the 1960s. This banjo features a one piece flange, brass unplated no hole tonering, mahogany neck and resonator, 5 Star tuners, and a hard shell case. Comes professionally set up with capo spikes installed. Available to ship. Never gigged, and only used in my recording studio. One of only 5 ever built.
$2000 plus shipping

Folks - Davis top tension banjo for sale. I had this custom made by the excellent Tim Davis, but lo and behold I’m playing mando a lot these days and saving my pennies for a new one.

Top tension hardware. Mahogany rim and neck and standard (non top tension carved style) resonator. Speed neck. RB-7 inlay and headstock. 12” radius. Tim’s most excellent tone ring. Superior case.

Lots of pictures. No trades. Firm price.

$2,499.00

Scale Length: 26.25"
Nut Width: 1.25"
Neck Wood: Maple
Fretboard Wood: Ebony
Peghead Overlay: Ebony
Peghead Inlay: Vega logotype and star inlay in select hardwood
Fret Markers: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, and 17
Nut Material: Ebony
Spikes: None
Tuners: Planetary nickel with ebony buttons
Finish: Satin with walnut stain
Rim Size 12"
Rim Wood: Three-ply violin-grade maple
Tonering: Dobson
Brackets: 24
Tailpiece: Deering knotless
Head: Renaissance
Armrest: Maple
Case: Deering hard-shell case
Need More Specs? Contact Us!

The Vega Vintage Star is a brand new model from Deering's Vega line, and is one of the finest open-back banjos we've had from Deering in recent years. Geared specifically towards the discerning old-time player, the Vintage Star features a 12-inch violin-grade maple pot and a spectacular Dobson tone ring for added richness, sustain, and a bit more contour to the banjo's natural frequencies. The Vintage Star also features a full frailing scoop and comes stock with a Renaissance head, making it the ideal instrument for a clawhammer player not interested in compromising on sound. Beautiful wood inlays, aged brass hardware and a figured ebony fretboard add cosmetic appeal to make this banjo the complete package. Included in the price is a Deering hard-shell case.

$4,200.00
All Original Except Tuners
Multi-Ply Maple Rim
2-Piece Maple Neck
Ebony Fingerboard
10 7/8" Head Diameter
1 1/4" Nut Width
27 1/8" Scale Length
Includes Non-Original Hard Case

$3,299.99

Mahogany Resonator
Gold Hardware
Hopkins Bridge
Serial Number: 039-1
Case: Hard case

Contact Bob or Alvin at Morgan Music for additional information.

$3,150.00

This OME Sweetgrass was made in 2005 and it’s in excellent structural and cosmetic condition. This has OME’s Siverspun tone ring, which is similar to the tone rings used in Bacon & Day Silverbell banjos of the '20s and '30s. From the inside of the shell it looks similar to the Gibson-style flathead tone ring, but this is a lighter ring of nickel-plated spun brass, not heavy cast bronze. The Silverspun tone ring gives a sweeter, more airy tone. The neck is made of beautiful curly maple with OME's typically subtle shading. This has only very minor fret wear. Comes with its original hardshell case.

UPC 140944
Year 2005
Fingerboard Ebony
Neck material Flamed Maple
Total frets 22
Scale length 26 3/16"
Finish Lacquer
Nut width 1 1/4"
Binding Ivoroid
Tuners original 4-to-1 planetary
Shell 2-Ply Maple
Tone ring Silverspun
Diameter 11"
Case type Original Hardshell
Serial number 4911
SKU OMESWEET-4911

The Gryphon Advantage: This instrument has been personally setup by a member of our repair staff. Gryphon’s sustained commitment to quality ensures that no instrument not at optimal playing condition is sold. This comes with a lifetime discount on future repair and customizations.

* * * * * * * *

Acoustic guitars, mandolins, and banjos are still the mainstays at Gryphon, as they have been for over 45 years, though our inventory of steel guitars and ukuleles continues to grow as well. In recent years an important part of our growth has been in instruments by very small companies and individual makers, as we continue to keep one foot, or at least several toes, outside the mainstream music industry.

$699.99

Body Wood: Mahogany
Width at Nut: 1-3/16" Bone
Scale Length: 25-1/2"
Frets to Body: 18
Fingerboard and Bridge Wood: Radiused Select Wood
Body Binding: Black ABS
Headplate Material: Mahogany
Head: 8" PTS
Neck Material: Maple
Fingerboard Side Dots: White
Fingerboard Inlay: Dot
Pickguard: None
Tuners: Sealed Guitar-Style
Electronics: Humbucker Pickup
Case: Gold Tone Gigbag
Need More Specs? Contact Us!

The Gold Tone EB-5 is a new arrival in our store and one of the more unusual instruments we stock at the Denver Folklore Center. While electric-acoustic banjos are not necessarily uncommon, solid-bodied electric banjos are truly odd ducks - but the sheer coolness on display here is undeniable! The EB-5 is constructed out of a maple neck, bolted to a mahogany body with a small eight-inch head inset into the body to preserve some of the authentic banjo sound when plugged in. Representing a true hybrid between an electric guitar and a five-string banjo, the EB-5 also has guitar style tuners and uses a humbucking pickup positioned in between the bottom of the neck and the head, for a warm tone with a touch of natural compression. When plugged in, it sounds arguably more like an electric guitar than a banjo, with an extremely clean and clear sound. And unplugged, the EB-5 also doubles as a great practice banjo, as it's loud enough for the player to hear, but not loud enough to bother friends, family, or roommates. Whether it ends up being an auxiliary instrument for the banjo player who needs something different, or simply for being too cool to pass up, the EB-5 will fit the bill. Included in the price is a Gold Tone gig bag.

$5,250

Includes original case.

Model: Model C 5-string
Finish: White
SKU: BJ125
Original Finish: Yes
All Original Parts: Yes
Handedness: Right
Made In Year: 1920 - 1929
Scale Length: 26 3/8"
Pot Size: 11"

$1,795

"Our mission is to create affordable, professional quality, handcrafted banjos using 100% Native Appalachian hardwoods." - Pisgah Banjo Company

The Pisgah Banjo Co. is making incredibly high quality instruments and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better alternative in the modestly priced handcrafted banjo market. This 12" Cherry Rambler Dobson has a removable Dobson tone ring that has great sustain with a percussive attack some would describe as "cluck." The Dobson tone ring is easily removable if you want to vary your sound, and without the Dobson ring installed the sound is bit warmer with a quicker decay on the note. The spunover rim is an incredible value in this price range and adds clarity and sustain - with a touch of aesthetic elegance - to the overall sound. Priced with a high-quality Pisgah-branded gig bag.

Stainless steel spunover rim
Cherry neck
Richlite fingerboard
Dobson tone ring (removable)
No-knot tailpiece
Gotoh tuners
Pisgah-branded gig bag

$12,000 USD

Beautiful banjo by Ome! Rosewood neck and resonator. Gold engraved hardware. Carved heel, and resonator. It doesn't get much better than this.

Handcrafted in the U.S.A. With OHSC (burgundy lining). EC. On consignment.

Absolutely gorgeous display of artistry by Ome!
SN 4169
2005
EC
2-piece rosewood neck with 3-piece center strip
Carved heel and back of headstock is also carved
Rosewood resonator with Squash blossom carving on back
Gold engraved hardware
Engraving on tension hoop, tone ring, armrest, flange and tailpiece
Ivoroid bound neck, headstock, resonator, rim and heel cap
Abalone purfling on neck, rim, resonator and heel
Rim features rosewood veneer
19-fret ebony fingerboard
Pearl engraved "Renaissance" inlays on headstock and fingerboard
"GRAND ARTIST" banner inlay on 17th fret
11" smooth head
Gold Silverspun tone ring
24 brackets, notched tension hoop
Flat plate flange
Oettinger-style tailpiece
Schaller tuners with pearl buttons
1-9/32" nut, 22-1/4" scale
Handcrafted in the U.S.A.
With OHSC (burgundy lining)

$1,095.00

Scale Length: 26.19"
Nut Width: 1.31"
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Fretboard Wood: Rosewood
Peghead Overlay: Rosewood
Peghead Inlay: Buffalo nickel
Fret Markers: 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets
Nut Material: Bone
Spikes: 7th fret
Tuners: Nickel-plated planetary with black buttons
Finish: Hand-rubbed tung oil
Rim Size: 12"
Rim Wood: Multi-ply maple
Tonering: None
Brackets: 26
Tailpiece: Aged brass no-knot
Head: Renaissance
Armrest: Select hardwood
Case: Access padded gig bag
Need More Specs? Contact Us!

The Ute 12" Premium is another excellent open-back banjo from Ome Banjo Co.'s Ute line, geared specifically towards the beginner or intermediate clawhammer player. It's one of the nicest parts banjos currently available, hand-built by living Colorado legend Chuck Ogsbury at the Ome shop in Boulder. All Ute banjos come stock with a side-scooped, solid mahogany neck, as well as a multi-ply maple pot, and a Renaissance head for a bit of added warmth. The Ute 12" Premium comes with 26 brackets rather than the standard 14, giving it a tighter, crisper sound and keeping the head more stably in tune. This one also comes with a hardwood armrest included as an extra upgrade. Included in the price is a padded Access gig bag.

$950.00 + shipping

Benary Piccolo Banjo, c. 1895, made in New York City, natural finish, spunover rim, mahogany neck with ebonized fingerboard, black gig bag case.

This is a well-worn but rare and interesting (not to mention awful cute!) tiny 5-string banjo, a product of the late 19th century fascination with banjos of all sizes. The "Piccolo Banjo" with a 7" rim and 14" scale was the smallest size generally attempted, though a few even tinier novelty instruments are known to exist. Much of the impetus for building banjos in many assorted sizes came from S.S. Stewart in Philadelphia, but other makers latched onto the idea as well. They were originally intended to be played in large banjo ensembles, with the piccolo taking the high melody or counter melody in the orchestral arrangements.

This banjo is stamped "Benary New York" on the dowel stick. It bears no other markings designating model or grade and has no serial number. Benary was a fairly well known music house at the time, but it is possible this banjo was outsourced to another builder, as was common then. The level of decoration is fairly plain, with just a dot inlaid fingerboard. The neck is mahogany with Benary's distinctive pinned-on metal heelcap and the spunover rim is fairly basic but typical of the era. The tailpiece is stamped A.G.Wood, with an 1887 patent number. While almost toy-like in appearance this banjo actually plays well and has a lovely and surprisingly powerful sound.

Overall length is 22 1/8 in. (56.2 cm.), 7 in. (17.8 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 1/4 in. (362 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).

This is a neat little instrument, fairly well worn but still a good player 125 or so years on. The finish and plating show a lot of wear, with dings, dents and chips to the wood and a very ancient patina on the metal. Everything on the banjo is complete and functional, including a full set of original ivoroid tuning pegs. The tailpiece looks to be missing a small decorative element, but this does not affect its function. There is some thin fingerboard material chipped off at the rim joint, but this does not affect stability at all. This instrument plays very well with NylGut strings and sounds lovely, although small hands are definitely an asset playing this one! Very Good + Condition.

$3,495.00

Case: Older hardshell

This very nice TB-2 conversion features a Huber ring (fitted by Ronnie Bales), and a fine quality conversion neck from an unknown maker. Pot appears to be all-original with the addition of a nice punched pre-war Presto tailpiece; spikes installed at 7 & 9.

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About us: Lowe Vintage Instrument Company specializes in bringing our customers the finest vintage fretted instruments in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Since opening our storefront in downtown Burlington, North Carolina in 2014, we have been recognized by NAMM as one of the top music retailers in the world with their annual “Top 100 Dealer” award for three consecutive years. Whether you’re looking to buy your very first vintage instrument or want to sell a lifetime’s collection, we appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.

$1,595.00

Scale Length: 25.38"
Nut Width: 1.38"
Neck Wood: Ash
Fretboard Wood: Richlite
Peghead Overlay: Richlite
Peghead Inlay: Pisgah emblem
Fret Markers: Metal Dots
Spikes: None
Tuners: Gotoh Planetary
Finish: Satin
Rim Size: 12"
Rim Wood: Three Ply Ash
Tonering: Rolled Brass
Brackets: Balsam Banjoworks Brass and Nickel
Tailpiece: Traditional Tailpiece
Head: Remo Renaissance
Armrest: None
Case: Pisgah Banjo Company Logo Access Gig Bag

This Woodchuck model from Pisgah Banjos delivers great sounding old-time tone and comfortable playability on a budget. This is the first step in the Pisgah line, and features a frailing scoop, folk-heel, 12" pot, traditional dowel stick construction, a channeled brass tension hoop with stainless steel brackets, traditional tailpiece, and USA made Balsam Banjo Works hardware. This includes a nicely padded Pisgah Banjos gigbag.

$4,650.00

Exc condition / SN: K20-06-08
Old Floor Rim #293

This is a limited production of about 25 banjos crafted by Idaho banjo builder Will Williams. These were built based on specifications provided by renowned banjo player Kenny Ingram, who was active during the 1990s and early 2000s and played with numerous distinguished bands.

These banjos feature exceptional components and are modeled after the RB-75.

The double-cut peghead has an ebony veneer with the pearl inlaid Williams logo, flying eagle inlay, and pearl truss rod cover. Bone nut. The flat rosewood fingerboard also features pearl flying eagle inlays, and pearl block on the 21st fret engraved with “Kenny Ingram”. The fingerboard has antiqued cream binding with black position markers on the bass side. Railroad spikes are installed at the 7th and 9th frets for A and B capoing.

The 5th string tuner is Schaller, and the peghead tuners are Keith Standard �" all with matching ivoroid buttons.

The body is constructed of Mahogany and accented with slightly antiqued white binding. The back of the resonator features concentric binding. The rim on this banjo is something quite special. It is an old-wood rim called an “old factory floor rim” and is fitted with an unplated Burlile tone ring. The rim was built using Maple from the mid-1800s that originated from an old furniture factory. The wood was acquired by a banjo rim maker who fashioned these “old floor rims” at a premium price point.

There is a Snuffy Smith bridge and a Presto tailpiece. All hardware is nickel.

This banjo is in excellent condition, with the only sign of wear found on the arm rest. The inside is signed and numbered by Kenny Ingram.

Hard case included.

$1,085 USD

Well made import banjo with fancy appointments. Maple neck and resonator. Carved heel. Gold hardware. Fancy inlays. Built in Asia. With OHSC (tan lining). VG-EC except could use (fretwork, clean hardware, setup, etc. - plays okay, sold AS-IS).

Good import resonator banjo
SN DK02100026
2002
VG-EC *(see below)
Gloss dark brown stain on maple neck
Heel and back of the headstock are carved
Sunburst finish on flamed maple resonator
Gold hardware
White-bound 22-fret ebony fingerboard
Fancy acrylic inlays
Headstock features pearl "Washburn" logo and fancy inlays
Truss rod cover reads "B-17"
Planetary tuners with 2 import D-tuners installed
Geared 5th string peg
Railroad spikes installed on frets 7, 9 and 10
~5/8" maple rim
11" frosted top head
Flathead tone ring
One-piece flange, notched tension hoop with 24 brackets
Dual coordinator rods
Clamshell tailpiece, engraved armrest
White-bound resonator
1-1/8" nut, ~26-3/8" scale
Built in Asia
With OHSC (tan lining)
*VG-EC except could use (fretwork, clean hardware, setup, etc. - plays okay, sold AS-IS)

$950 USD

Shiney and glossy, this tenor banjo by Gold Tone features a gloss vintage brown finish on mahogany resonator, maple rim and neck. It has an 11" head, 1-piece flange and 24 brackets. Comes with a rosewood fingerboard. Original hard shell case. Built in China.

SN 22009002
2022
EC+
Gloss vintage brown finish
1-3/16" nut
Double bound mahogany resonator
3-ply maple rim
11" smooth head
Dual coordinator rods
1-piece flange
Notched tension hoop
24 brackets nuts
Flathead tone ring
Waverly-style tailpiece
Dark-finished maple neck
Waverly-style tailpiece
19-fret rosewood fingerboard with hearts and flowers inlay
Zero fret
Planetary tuners
22-5/8" scale
Engraved armrest
11.4 lbs.
Flame maple peghead overlay features logo and fancy inlays
Tuned CGDA
Chrome hardware
Original TKL hard shell case (gray lining)
Built in China

$599.95

Scale Length: 23.5"
Nut Width: 1.19"
Neck Wood: Maple
Fretboard Wood: Rosewood
Peghead Overlay: Rosewood
Peghead Inlay: Printed Gold Tone logotype with star
Fret Markers: 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets
Nut Material: Bone with Zeroglide
Spikes: 7th fret
Tuners: Nickel planetary with pearloid buttons
Finish: Vintage brown matte
Rim Size: 11"
Rim Wood: Multi-ply maple
Tonering: Rolled brass
Brackets: 18
Tailpiece: Nickel no-knot
Head: Remo LC Fiberskyn
Armrest: Nickel
Case: Gold Tone gig bag
Need More Specs? Contact Us!

Ever wanted to play a tune with a fiddle player but couldn't play it in the key they wanted to? One solution would be to buy a capo for your banjo, but another might be to invest in an A-scale banjo, like this sweet little CC-OTA from Gold Tone. An A-scale banjo is tuned up a whole step from a regular banjo - meaning it's quite adept at playing in the keys of A and D, two that are favorites of fiddle players. The CC-OTA also sports all of the useful extra features that a good clawhammer banjo should, including a full frailing scoop, a Fiberskyn head for extra warmth and low end, and a spike at the seventh fret, making it a great instrument for old time music. Additionally, it can also be easily tuned down to the more typical open G tuning, making it a good fit for smaller people interested in learning how to play the banjo. Included in the price is a Gold Tone gig bag, for easy and lightweight protection while transporting your instrument.

$3,445.00

The Juniper features the OME heavy rolled brass tone-ring fitted to our 2-ply solid maple rim for increased response and volume. The 12” body size produces more warmth and bass. The abalone and MOP floral inlays add elegance and beauty to this simple but graceful instrument.

Contact Bob or Alvin at Morgan Music for additional information.

$80,000.00 + shipping

Gibson TB-18 Model Tenor Banjo (1937), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 392-2, sunburst lacquer finish, maple rim and resonator, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

This amazingly original and extremely rare instrument is a Gibson TB-18 tenor banjo made in 1937. This was the top-of-the line, most expensive of the three brand new top-tension banjos which debuted that year. Banjo sales were at a low ebb at the time, many of the builders who had ridden the tenor boom of the 1930s were either gone or going out of business at the time. Gibson was one of the few who were still making professional grade banjos, and the only one to debut a completely new line. This top-line Style 18 was the only gold-plated Mastertone model available between 1937 and the suspension of banjo production during WW II.

The new 1937 Gibson "Professional grade" banjo line was strikingly modern in styling compared to earlier designs. The major structural change was adopting a top tension system for the head, as had been pioneered by Ludwig and Leedy in the 1920s. They were the first Gibson banjos to feature the Bluegrass players' "holy grail" flathead tone ring as universal equipment. They looked and felt very different from earlier Gibsons with bold Art Deco styling, including bolder notched-block inlay in the fingerboard and reshaped angular headstock. The resonator back was elaborately carved from solid flame maple as opposed to a laminated veneer. Another change was a radiused fingerboard, something then common on guitars but unusual on banjos. Gibson called it the "Stream-Flo neck" with "New wide low action frets".

This TB-18 is the most deluxe banjo Gibson offered in 1937; "A New Banjo by Gibson" was highlighted in bold in their 1937-8 Catalog Y which enumerated its features: "Made of beautifully figured curly maple, finished in a hand rubbed Cremona brown with golden sunburst on resonator and neck. Fingerboard made of rosewood with genuine pearl inlays. White-black-white ivoroid binding around top and bottom of resonator, fingerboard, and peghead. Heavily gold plated and engraved metal parts."

The heavily gold-plated metalwork on this banjo is particularly beautiful, with deep and beautifully detailed engraving around contrasting matte and shiny gold accents. The engraved Grover tuners have unique dark amber Catalin buttons specific to this late-'30s era. This TB-18 is fitted with the rare optional wrist-action mute, another brand new feature. This elaborate device added $25 to the cost of the banjo for a total of $225, plus $22.00 for the case. "It will give any banjo player an almost limitless number of effects" Gibson claimed.

With the very limited demand for high-end banjos in the late 1930s, very few TB-18s were sold. Available information indicates 5 shipped in 1937, the first in July '37 along with some salesman's samples of the new banjo line, two more in October and two in November. The factory order number on this banjo (392-2) marks it as the second instrument in what appears to be the second batch, documented by Spann as around mid-1937. While most were tenor models, the Style 18 was available in Plectrum or 5-string configuration by special order.

This banjo has a unique history, a single family instrument since new. It was originally the property of a young lady named June Conrad, who was born in 1924 and played banjo on the radio as a child. The family recalls there were some discussions about her appearing in films that apparently never came to fruition. Nevertheless when she was around 17-18 years old this spectacular banjo was procured for her, complete with her name engraved on the truss rod cover. She played it a bit, then it was apparently put away for decades, only re-surfacing this year. This is simply a fabulous find in a genuine pre-war, flat head Mastertone, one of the most spectacular banjos we have ever seen.

Overall length is 35 in. (88.9 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).

While showing some relatively minor signs of use, this beautiful banjo has apparently not been played or even much handled since sometime before WWII. There is some very light wear overall, but no alterations and indeed even the strings do not appear to have been changed since FDR was in the White House. While the primary market for this pre-war flathead Mastertone is players intending to convert the instrument to 5-string format it is currently a fine playing and great-sounding tenor.

The only notable issues are the rim of the resonator has minor separations in a couple of spots along the back edge, which are visible but not moving. Some of the binding on the edge of the resonator has taken on a pinkish hue from prolonged contact with the red case lining. There is minor greening in spots to the gold plating but no heavy wear. The one-piece flange is in exceptionally fine condition with no distortion or damage at all. The only piece of hardware not original is the tailpiece bolt; the original is included but the nut slips on the threads (this appears to be a factory mis-fit!) and so a plainer screw has been substituted.

The original frets and fingerboard have some light wear, but nothing that affects playability. The original Rogers head is still intact and very functional, if a bit dirty on some of the surface from play. The original maple bridge and period silked strings are likewise functional if showing their age somewhat!

The original red-line hard shell case is also in exceptionally fine condition, with some minor external wear and a recently replaced handle. Inside the pocket is a plethora of period accessories including the original tension wrench, pre-war Gibson strings, the case key, a truss cover presumably replaced by the factory personalized one, and more, most amazingly the original instruction sheet detailing the care and feeding of the new Mastertone! This is truly a time capsule instrument, an exciting and important piece of Gibson history seeing the light of day for the first time in this century. Overall Excellent Condition.

$1,199.99 USD

14" pot with Renaissance head gives this a great deep tone. 4 strings are tuned C-G-D-A (low to high.) Designed with performer/teacher/producer Marcy Marxer who keeps finding new uses for its distinctive low voice.

The exact appearance of this item may vary.

Finish: Vintage Brown
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge: Maple with Ebony Cap
Tuners: GT Master Planets
Inlay: Weymann Vintage
Truss Rod: Two-Way Adjustable
Tone Ring: Rolled Brass
Rim: 3-Ply 14" Pot
Tension Hoop: Notched Brass
Binding: White ABS
Brackets: 32
Buttons: C-Style
Hardware: Nickel Plated
Pickups: Optional
Tailpiece: 4-String Straightline
Armrest: "Hot Dog"
Head: 14" Renaissance
Number of Frets: 16
Nut Width: 1-9/16" Bone
Scale Length: 24-3/4"
Weight: 8 lbs.
Tuning: CGDA
Strings: .040 .030w .042w .054w
Hard Case: Included
Left-Handed Available: Yes

$640

Deering's no-frills, American-made Goodtime banjo is the perfect starter instrument for anyone at any age looking for their first banjo!

Weighing in at about 4 pounds, it is light enough for children to hold and play, and is ideal for traveling, camping, hiking, or taking to the beach, and provides a vibrant singing banjo tone in any situation.

Its violin-grade maple construction is durable and easy to maintain. Priced with soft gig bag.

11" blonde 3-ply maple rim
Openback
Satin finish
Scoop
Steel tension hoop
1 1/4″ nut width
26 1/4″ scale length
Soft gig bag

$3,850.00
Started Life as a Tenor
Original Uncut Pot & Hardware
Ryan Flathead Conversion Tonering
Original Resonator (Refinished)
Clancy Mullins Maple Neck
1 3/32" Nut Width
26 1/2" Scale Length
Deluxe Non-Original Hardshell Case Included

$1,499.00

Scale Length: 26-3/16"
Nut Width: 1-3/16"
Neck Wood: Maple
Fretboard Wood: Ebony
Peghead Overlay: Maple
Fret Markers: Hearts and Flowers
Nut Material: Bone
Spikes: None
Tuners: GT Master Planets
Finish: Vintage Gloss
Rim Size: 11"
Rim Wood: 3-Ply Maple
Rim or Resonator Binding: Maple
Resonator Wood: 14" Flamed Maple
Tailpiece: 5-String Straight Line
Head: 11" HC Frosted
Armrest: Gold Tone Engraved
Case: Gold Tone Hard Shell Case
Need More Specs? Contact Us!

If we sold banjos by weight, this one would be a small fortune... Fortunately, we do not! This is one of the most popular Bluegrass banjos that we sell and features all the bells and whistles that you'd expect to see on a prewar style banjo; a sand-cast bell brass flathead tone ring, a cast one-piece resonator flange, twin coordinator rods, a highly flamed curly maple multi-ply pot that is a little extra deep to help bring out a better low-end response, and a custom script inlay and matte finish. A Gold Tone hard shell case is included.

$5,950.00

This is a very handsome banjo with the perfect contrast between the wood and the Black, Nickle, and Gold parts.

All this plus high grade abalone purflings everywhere!

Exc condition • SN: 1452
Flamed Koa bindings W/ Abalone purflings

This 2013 Bishline Clermont Custom banjo has everything top notch. It has fine showy Maple woods and Koa bindings accented with blue/green abalone purflings. The neck is extremely nice figured Maple, the side of the fingerboard is bound with flamed Koa and also with the abalone purfling below. The resonator has a very nice stained quilted Maple, and the sidewalls of the resonator are very heavy striped flame finger Maple. There is a wonderfully made wooden armrest, bound with the same blue/green abalone used throughout this banjo.

The peghead is bound with flamed Koa bindings, and inside the binding there is the same beautiful blue/green abalone purfling. The truss rod is also bound with abalone. The Bishline logo is engraved in a banner at the top with a lot of pearl work inlay in the center of the peghead. There are 5 tuners showing through the peghead, as the 5th string is using a tunnel through the fingerboard. The tuners are all Gotoh. Unbleached bone nut. The fingerboard is Gabon Ebony with “Clermont” mother of pearl inlays. There are two professionally installed railroad spikes at 7th and 9th fret. The neck has a 12″ compound radius that is a little steeper towards the nut. This banjo has a Gary Price straight-lined tailpiece, and the original Bishline head. The resonator is also startlingly great quilted Maple which is stained perfectly with a brown amber color. There is a nice wood rim and a pre-war style flat head tone ring.

The hardware of this banjo is black, Nickle, and Gold. Black anodized tension hoop and flange with gold hooks, nuts, and coordinator rods. This banjo also has a Nickle tone ring, tailpiece, Gold tuners, and Gold thumbscrews.

This is a very handsome banjo with the perfect contrast between the wood and the black, Nickle, and Gold parts.

The sound is very good.

Comes with a good hard case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-bWY3vB-C0

$2,500.00 + shipping

Clifford Essex Paragon Model 5 String Banjo (1924), made in London, England, serial # 23, natural finish, laminated maple, ebony and rosewood rim, laminated maple neck with ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.

This banjo is not quite 100 years old, a very early example of what was at that time the best (and certainly most modern) banjo yet built in England. Some would say these early Clifford Essex Paragon banjos remain as fine as any ever made in the UK; they are particularly prized by Irish-style musicians. As a result Paragons may be the only vintage banjos where a five-string like this is not valued highly over the tenor version!

This is a fully "American styled" instrument, quite different from the daintier Zither Banjos Essex was known for then still popular in the British Isles. This is a large, heavy and imposing banjo, very well built and designed to challenge the quality and sound of the American-made Vega and Paramount banjos that were the world standard. The name "Paragon" may have been cheekily selected to suggest the Paramount, but the design is far from a mere copy of US originals.

In 1924 the name Clifford Essex was already a venerable brand in England. He was originally a notable banjo player and teacher who entered the business of selling instruments in 1883. Early banjos were produced by various factories, originally branded Essex & Cammeyer reflecting a partnership with that noted American player/designer. By 1900 that was dissolved and Clifford Essex logo instruments were mostly being made in house.

The Paragon brand was introduced in June 1924, launched with some fanfare via advertisements in the Clifford Essex-published magazine BMG. The earliest Serial numbers ranged from 1 up to around 300; this one has #23 stamped on the dowel under the arched Paragon logo and bears the maker's inlaid address plate "Clifford Essex and Co. 15A Grafton Street London W". The heavy rosewood capped maple rim has holes drilled top to bottom, topped with a large hollow sheathed arch-top tone ring with holes facing inward. The shoes are mounted on a bracket band ala Vega's design, but more massive. The heavy hoop is fluted around the top edge, a distinctive Paragon touch. All the hardware is unique and of British origin except for US-made Waverly "spike" tuners, one of the earliest geared pegs available. There is a very small 4-digit number stamped on the back of the headstock; the significance of this is obscure as Paragon serial number is always on the dowel.

The 26 1/2' scale five string neck is made of multi-laminate maple and ebony, with fairly chunky profile and a bound ebony fingerboard. This and the ebony headstock facing are finely inlaid with engraved pearl. This banjo has fairly massive hardware and construction all around but at 8 1/4 Lbs. is not overly heavy, thanks to those rim chambers. Originally this banjo had a resonator, that is long gone but the mounting bracket is still in the case. It appears to have been played many decades in openback 5-string configuration. As such it is quite loud but with a mellower tone than might be expected and a nice old-timey ring. This banjo cost 25 guineas new, quite a bit at the time and almost 100 years on represents a real bargain in a high quality vintage 5-string.

Overall length is 36 1/4 in. (92.1 cm.), 11 3/16 in. (28.4 cm.) diameter head, and 3 in. (7.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/2 in. (673 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).

This is a generally well preserved banjo, especially for nearly a century on the planet and having traveled far from its London origins. The neck and rim were overfinished long ago with a hand-rubbed clear coat, something old "banjo guys' used to love to do. It is not overly thick but somewhat scrubby looking in spots. The dowel retains the original thin varnish finish. There has been some general wear since but overall this is pretty clean banjo for 98 years on. The plating on the hardware shows only light clouding and minimal corrosion; it does not appear to have ever been re-plated.

Everything on the instrument appears original except the head (a Waverly Fiberskyn) and probably the bridge. The unique tailpiece and Paramount style armrest are still intact. The frets appear original and show very little wear. As noted an originally fitted resonator has likely been missing for many decades; the mounting hardware for attaching it to the dowel is still in the case. This is a fine playing, high quality instrument, very handsome to look at and a lovely and unique banjo to play. These are very rare here in the US having never been imported to these shores and this is the first Paragon we have ever offered. It lives in a later (1960-70s0 HSC and we swear seems to twang with an English accent!

Overall Excellent Condition.

$729.00

Neck Width: 1-1/4″
Scale Length: 26 1/4″
Rim Diameter: 11″
Neck Wood: Blonde Slender Rock Maple Neck
Number Of Frets: 22 Pressed In Nickel Silver Frets
Fingerboard Inlay: Hardwood Bow Tie Inlays
Tuners: Sealed Geared Tuners / Geared 5th String Tuner
Finish: Durable Satin Finish
Pot Wood: Blonde 3-ply Violin Grade Maple Rim
Hoop: Steel Tension Hoop
Head: 11″ Frosted Top High Crown Head
Hardware: 16 Flat Hooks with 9/32″ Nuts / 16 Bracket Shoes with Screw Attachments
Tailpiece: Deering Patented Goodtime Tailpiece
Coordinator Rod: Steel Coordinator Rod
Gig bag or Hardshell Case sold separately

A resonator back provides more projection of sound in the Goodtime Two. We make it here in the USA, at the Deering shop with the same tooling we use to make the top of the line banjos. Greg Deering designed the Goodtime banjos because there were no low priced banjos of enough quality for people to actually learn on without difficulty or giving up. He remembers what it was like to want a good banjo and not be able to afford one, so his gift to others is the Goodtime banjo line. Designed for success, the Goodtime banjos are the lowest priced American made banjos. They are so good many professionals have recorded with Goodtime banjos.

The Goodtime Two weighs 6 lbs - about the weight of a guitar. The Goodtime Two has a natural blonde maple with a satin finish to protect it. The rich, golden tone and the reverberation off the resonator sound great. You can definitely tell a volume difference between open back and a Goodtime Two. The sound waves aren't getting trapped between you and the banjo, which makes a pretty big difference. If you want a great low priced bluegrass banjo for travel and leisure that plays correctly and is durable, this is the best buy on the market!

$1,799.99

In late 2018, "Banjo Ben" Clark, Jake Stogdill, and Robby Boone had a concept for replicating one of the most iconic banjos, played by the one of the most iconic banjo players of all time, JD Crowe's original RB-3 ("Banger"). After extensive research, and with great attention to every detail, Gold Tone was able to rebirth this classic banjo. What makes this banjo truly unique is its "No Hole" tone ring, which really tightens up the sustain. It also features the original measurements on the headstock, neck and body, nickel plated hardware, slanted resonator walls, vintage inlay, a Presto tailpiece, concentric resonator rings, and a brown mahogany finish. We've designed hundreds of banjos in the last 25 years, but tone-wise, this outperforms every previous model. Includes an archtop hardshell case.

Contact Bob or Alvin at Morgan Music for additional information.