Resonator

SOLD!! Bacon and Day Super Tenor Banjo, 1927

On August 26, 2019 /

It’s always interesting to see vintage pieces like this Bacon and Day Super Tenor banjo, built around 1927 at the Bacon Banjos shop in Boston, Massachusetts. The Super Tenor was built from 1920 to 1927. From 1906 to 1920, noted musician Fredrick Bacon sold banjos under his own name. In 1921, he partnered with David Day and while the company name remained Bacon, many instruments were branded Bacon and Day. Bacon, and Bacon and Day, operated independently until 1940 when they were purchased by Gretsch; the line was discontinued in 1967.

Vintage

Price: $1,549.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

❌SOLD❌ Vega Deluxe Electric Tenor Banjo Sunburst Restored, 1937

On July 29, 2019 /

Here we have a real rarity from around 1937 – a restored, refinished and replated Vega Deluxe Electric Tenor Banjo, and they meant ‘Electric’ – this has a pickup! The Vega company was one of the older banjo builders in the USA, having started during 1881 in Boston, Massachusetts and acquiring the A C Fairbanks company assets in 1904 following a devastating fire at the Fairbanks plant. By the 1040s Vega was fading, and in the 1970s C F Martin purchased the company and held it until 1989 when Greg Deering bought it and re-created the Vega line.

Vintage

Price: $4,995.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

❌SOLD❌ Gibson TB 3 Mastertone Tenor Banjo, 1926

On July 12, 2019 /

Built from 1925 to 1937, the Gibson TB 3 Mastertone tenor banjo was a popular though relatively unadorned instrument, used in jazz and banjo orchestras. As the popularity of tenor instruments waned, many of these banjos were converted with 5-string necks. This example is in largely original condition, save for the tuners.

Vintage

Price: $2,500.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

❌SOLD❌ Gibson TB 3 Mastertone Tenor Banjo, 1927-28

On July 12, 2019 /

The Gibson TB 3 Mastertone tenor banjo – the TB actually stands for Tenor Banjo – features a plain Maple rim and resonator, with Mahogany for the neck and Rosewood, likely Brazilian given the date, for the fingerboard. The tone ring and flange designs changed at least three times during the TB 3’s production. Initial 1925 and early 1926 models used a classic ball-bearing tone ring, then for later 1926-1928 a solid archtop tone ring, and finally the flathead tone ring for 1929.

Vintage

Price: $4,700.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

❌SOLD❌ National El Trovador Resophonic Guitar with Hot Plate, Mahogany, 2015

On July 11, 2019 /

The National El Trovador goes back to the 1930’s wood bodied, single cone resophonic guitars by National, and this one comes with a HotPlate installed! The El Trovador uses a Mahogany laminate for the body and solid Mahogany for the neck, with a bound Ebony fingerboard. The peg head is slotted, which increases the pressure of the strings on the nut while reducing the required tip-back angle of the head.

Used

Price: $3,199.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

❌SOLD❌ Whyte Laydie Style Banjo Unknown Builder, 1980s

On June 25, 2019 /

The originals of the Whyte Laydie style banjos were made by the Fairbanks company around the turn of the 20th century, with a particular type of tone ring. The Whyte Laydie tone ring is a scalloped brass ring with a steel tone hoop, which provides higher volume, sustain and ‘ringing’ tone. A C Fairbanks was a large musical instrument manufacturer in Boston, but in 1904 suffered a devastating workshop fire, for which they were under insured.

Used

Price: $1,799.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

Resonator

SOLD!! Bacon and Day Super Tenor Banjo, 1927

❌SOLD❌ Vega Deluxe Electric Tenor Banjo Sunburst Restored, 1937

❌SOLD❌ Gibson TB 3 Mastertone Tenor Banjo, 1926

❌SOLD❌ Gibson TB 3 Mastertone Tenor Banjo, 1927-28

❌SOLD❌ National El Trovador Resophonic Guitar with Hot Plate, Mahogany, 2015

❌SOLD❌ Whyte Laydie Style Banjo Unknown Builder, 1980s

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