A short scale tenor banjo has 17 frets; it was made for semi-professional musicians with small hands. Nowadays the players of Scots and Irish music prefer this type of banjo. Although it came to us (meowing at the front door) missing its fingerboard binding our workshop has miraculously restored ivoroid binding that they, in alchemist fashion, aged. Seeing it, it’s possible that no one would ever know this work was done. The scale length is 22 7/8”. This tenor banjo is overall in very fine condition, the maple back-of-neck shows some small dings but does not show hand wear that comes from excessive playing time. There are some small semi-circular indentations in the ebony cap on the back of the rim, a modicum of fret wear in the lower positions, some dullness to the finish on the headplate, rim and neck (as is normal after 85 years - ask my grandfather).
The stretcher band, bracket band and 30 brackets are all nearly free of oxidation and in exceptional shape. The black fingerboard seems at first glance to be ebony but it is more likely ebonized pearwood, inlaid with 8 pearl dots in 5 positions with a large star at the fifth, plus another star inlaid at the center of the unstained pearwood headplate. Its tuners are original un-geared friction machines -- meaning that they have metal and ivoroid parts and are tightened by a screw at the end of the button. The skin head is in excellent condition and measures 11 3/4". Wide diameter head Vega Whyte Laydie tenor banjos make the best and highest use candidates for conversion to 5-string banjo when played in frailing and round peak styles. Our shop replaced the missing neck binding, performed a set-up and restringing. Now this precious pimpled peccary has become an excellent player with just the right lineage, from the right period and definitely carrying the right credentials.
THIS WAS $1850 BUT IS NOW ON SALE. Now available for way less!