Custom Made

GOLDEN TONE

5-String Banjo

This banjo just has that "something special" look and feel. If you are looking at the piece you know more about it than I do. I will be adding to the description as I learn more but for now, I will do the best that I can to describe and tell you about it. The banjo is from an estate and the previous owner bought the piece from a friend as an investment.

When I was introduced to the piece I was handed a very nice, high quality case that seemed heavy to me. I later found that the case & banjo weighed just under 20 lbs. with the banjo itself weighing 11 lbs. I noticed the brass tag on the case that says, "FIREHOUSE 5, MODEL: GOLDEN TONE, MODEL #01020771-2. When I opened the case I was overwhelmed by the Golden Tone that filled the case. The drum of the banjo, the hoop, the ring, the hook bolts & nuts, what I would call the bridge and the tuning pegs are all gold in color and what I believe to be gold plated. When looking through the clear head the drum glows with gold refection.

When the shock of the "Golden Tone" diminishes, the eyes wander to the neck, specifically the inlaid Mother of Pearl on the Rosewood fret board. The inlay is mostly a white color but a closer look reveals floral patterns made up of beautiful colors. The white patterns are very detailed and were placed on the fret board prior to the fret wire.

The Deering Banjo Company name is somewhat hidden beneath the clear head under the bridge portion of the banjo. The name is the only writing that I see on the banjo itself. I did some research on the brass tag on the case where I pulled the model and the model # from and discovered that the FIREHOUSSE 5 was a Dixie Land Jazz band popular in the 1950's and made up of members of the Disney animation and production teams. The banjo and the case look more modern than the 50's. There may ben other FIREHOUSE 5 bands and it may be that the banjo was presented to the 1950's player later in life or something like that.

I am not a player but a friend did play the piece. The sound was great and he said that the banjo played well. There is a cut out where the neck attaches that seems a bit oversized and amateurish (see photos). The neck seems to be straight and I am not sure of the construction of the joint. I have never seen an oversized hole in the joint like this. I have also not inspected too many banjos. The one thing that seemed a positive to me is that what I would call the rod, the piece that connects the body to the neck, seems to be lined up well. Overall, I believe that the banjo is "special." It is a one of a kind piece and a beautiful banjo that also plays well and has great tone. At this point I would say that unless the buyer intends to use the banjo stictly as a "wall hanger," the neck will need some attention. It is possible that the neck is not the original neck to the banjo. The pieces look and sound good together and a skilled builder or re-builder could create a beautiful banjo. I will also point out that one of the hinges on the case has been replaced with a different hinge from those from the factory.

Please message me if you would like specific photos or have questions. I will do everything that I can to answer to provide any information.

PLEASE SEE PHOTOS