Open Back

Lyon & Healy 5 String Banjo, c. 1895

On February 22, 2021 /

Here is a lovely example of a turn of the century Lyon & Healy 5 String banjo, built circa 1895. Though there is no stamping on the dowel stick or label, it has the signature L&H shaped peghead and the lovely L&H Patent tailpiece which confirms the origin. The Lyon & Healy firm grew out of an effort by Oliver Ditson – beginning in 1864 – to expand his wholesale musical instrument business into the US Midwest, with a facility in Chicago run by George Washburn Lyon and Patrick J. Healy.

Vintage

Price: $549.00 CAD

Dave Mills 5 String Openback Banjo with Frailing Scoop, 2018

On January 7, 2021 /

This neatly constructed Dave Mills 5 string openback banjo uses a 12 inch pot with a spun-over Maple rim and Dobson-style tone ring, and a 3-piece Maple neck with an Ebony fingerboard that carries a frailing scoop. The Maple used on the rim and neck has a very convincing Cherry stain – so convincing that even our repair shop staff thought it was cherry from a short distance! The head uses a traditional ‘paddle’ outline.

New

Price: $1,695.00 CAD

Pattison Whyte Laydie 5-String Black Walnut Banjo

On December 9, 2020 /

Once again we have a locally sourced Ian Pattison Whyte Laydie style open back banjo in Black Walnut from Pattison Stringed Instruments in Guelph, Ontario. The original Whyte Laydie banjos were made by A C Fairbanks starting around 1901 and ending in 1904 when the Fairbanks shop was destroyed in a fire, and the Vega company took over production. This lovely Pattison Whyte Laydie banjo features a Whyte Laydie tone ring by Rickert from Aurora, Ontario and a Renaissance head.

New

Price: $2,149.00 CAD

Vega Woodsongs Campfire Long Neck Banjo by Deering

On August 31, 2020 /

The Vega Woodsongs Campfire Long Neck Banjo by Deering is a modern expression of an older solution to a problem for banjo players: playing in E on a banjo is always a challenge. This why Pete Seeger had the long neck built for him. These are normally played with the neck capo’ed up three frets and the 5th string capo tack in use so the banjo is played in G.

New

Price: $2,189.00 CAD

Huber VRB4 Truetone Walnut 5 String Banjo, 2014

On August 5, 2020 /

Here we have a very good condition Huber VRB4 TrueTone Walnut 5-string banjo, with a highly figured Burl Walnut resonator and Rosewood fingerboard. Based on classic 1930s, pre-WW2 banjo designs, the Huber VRB4 delivers great tone and looks with modern reliability. It features walnut construction, a HR-30 tone ring and Huber Engineered rim. Walnut is a traditional material for banjos and guitars, and was commonly found until the late 1930s when Mahogany and Maple displaced it.

Used

Price: $5,300.00 CAD

Vega Professional Tubaphone Openback Banjo, 1920s Pot 1960s Neck

On June 1, 2020 /

This is a Vega Professional Tubaphone openback banjo, with a neck from the 1960s and the pot from a 1923 Vega Tubaphone banjo, a conversion common in the 1960s. Vega, now owned by Deering Banjos, is one of the oldest American banjo brands, founded in 1881 in Boston, Massachusetts. This lovely old banjo is a mix of two Vega banjos: a product of 1960s Hootenanny era.

Vintage

Price: $1,999.00 CAD

Open Back

Lyon & Healy 5 String Banjo, c. 1895

Dave Mills 5 String Openback Banjo with Frailing Scoop, 2018

Pattison Whyte Laydie 5-String Black Walnut Banjo

Vega Woodsongs Campfire Long Neck Banjo by Deering

Huber VRB4 Truetone Walnut 5 String Banjo, 2014

Vega Professional Tubaphone Openback Banjo, 1920s Pot 1960s Neck

MOST VIEWED

THE TWELFTH FRET

MORE SERVICES

STAY CONNECTED