Here we have a beautiful vintage five string banjo. No makers name, but the quality is outstanding and second to none. Looks to have started life as a fretless with frets added at some point during its lifetime. It probably had push in violin type pegs and I would estimate the banjo to have been made in the 1880’s.

The silky smooth neck is laminated in the finest wood and heavily inlaid with mother of pearl . Whoever undertook the engraving on this banjo was clearly at the top of their game. Frets are very good condition and friction pegs work well. A missing 5th string peg has been replaced.

The rim is eleven and a half inches in diameter and slightly deeper than usual and heavier. The spun metal is at least twice the thickness of normal and again, beautifully engraved.

Apart from the tuning pegs and probably the tailpiece bolt, all the hardware is original.

Set up is a high quality calfskin vellum with Nylgut strings. Action is just over an eighth inch at the twelfth fret

on a half inch ebony and maple bridge. Intonation is good the entire fingerboard

There is of course age related wear to be expected on a banjo that’s around a hundred and forty years old but overall, in super condition and good for many more years of playing. An absolute delight to look at. Please study the photos as they form part of the description.