Brand: Deering Banjos
Instrument Categories: Banjos, SOLD
The Deering John Hartford Radiused Fingerboard 5-String banjo is based on instruments used by the late, great John Hartford and sports a ‘Riverboat’ theme inlay set.
Here we’re looking at a Deering John Hartford Radiused Fingerboard 5-string banjo, built during 2010 at the Deering shop in Spring valley, California. This model combines a Grenadillo tone ring with a Violin grade 3-ply Maple rim, Flame maple neck with bound Ebony fingerboard, and flame Maple for the resonator. The instrument has a Walnut stain and a Satin finish. The optional Radiused fingerboard makes the banjo a little easier to play, and is a newer development for Banjos, though it’s been used in the guitar world for decades, and the violin family for centuries.
The Mother of Pearl Riverboat inlay set – based on architectural details of a riverboat, not pictures of riverboats – is specific to this banjo, and carries a subtle detail marking its construction before or after Hartford’s death in 2001. Now, the ‘John Hartford’ inlay block at the end of the fingerboard is Abalone, but before his death, Mother of Pearl was used.
From the John Hartford website:
“John Hartford was an American original. He was a musician, songwriter, steamboat pilot, author, artist, disc jockey, calligrapher, dancer, folklorist, father, and historian.”
John Hartford died on June 4, 2001 of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
This fine instrument is in very good condition, with minimal wear.
This Deering John Hartford Radiused fingerboard banjo comes has just been set up by Anne Hartman at The Twelfth Fret and is sold with its original Deering-branded hard shell case.
Visit our original new-model feature on the Deering John Hartford Banjo here!:
And of course, here’s a link to John Hartford playing several of his tunes in a studio setting.
- Model: John Hartford
- Year: 2010
- Finish Satin Walnut Stain
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: 0833904E463
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 25/11/2019
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 9.55lbs 4.34kg
- Scale Length: 26.24in 666.7mm
- Nut Width: 1.28in 32.5mm
