Description
| Brand: | Buckbee | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| Banjo Type: | 5 string open back | Era: | 1870's-1880's |
| Number of Strings: | 5 | UPC: | Does not apply |
I have for sale in very good condition, a very rare early and very ornate high grade Buckbee built 5 string banjo. The banjo may have been originally ordered by Henry Dobson of the Dobson Brothers, who had Buckbee build some of the higher end banjos that they sold. The headstock design and inlay is very much like a few other high end Henry Dobson banjos I have seen over the years. This banjo has a cherry neck and stick with ebony head stock veneer and ebony fingerboard, with multiple very intricate and unique inlays done from the head stock all the way down the neck with red and green abalone, copper, brass, and pewter. This beautiful high end banjo of it's day was likely custom made to order for someone originally as the gorgeous inlays down the neck seem to symbolize things or virtues of the day like good luck, food, drink, love, marriage, music, friendship, and fortitude. My guess is this banjo is one of a kind . The workmanship and detail of the inlays is stunning, a perfect example is the close up photo of the two abalone hearts with little copper wings over each heart, and the brass arrow going through them, along with abalone flowers and pewter vine. Really fine and exceptionally beautiful workmanship on all of the inlays. Heavily inlaid head stock is also beautiful and very ornate with very intricate red and green abalone, pewter, copper and brass inlays, and there are incredible intricate inlays of the same materials at the 2nd fret, 5th fret, 7th fret, 9th fret, 12th fret, 14th fret, 17th fret, and 18th fret. There is also a very nice intricate abalone, brass, copper and pewter inlay design covering the banjo's heel. Rim is spun over cherry, nickel plated with a brass top tension hoop. The banjo still has all of it's original ball shaped shoe brackets and hardware, as well as it's bracket hooks, and most of it's original bracket hex nuts. (The nickel finish is worn to the brass as expected here and there on the pot's parts after so many years.) The banjo currently has a modern day no knot tailpiece, and the banjo is strung with new Aquila Red Series nylon classic banjo strings. The neck is very straight, the back of the neck has a mildly rounded 'V' shape that feels great to the hand and allows for very easy playing while moving up and down the neck. The action is currently medium to high for old time playing, and the banjo would need a professional set up to bring the action down for other types of playing. The scale length of the banjo is 25 inches. The width at the nut is 1-3/8 inches. The original nut is in good condition. The skin head measures 10-7/8 inches across. Overall length of the banjo is 35-1/4 inches long. The finish on the banjo's wood looks to be all original except that someone at some point in time coated the entire fingerboard with some type of clear varnish or shellac. Why someone would do that is anyone's guess. The good thing about that is that the varnish coating likely has kept all of the ornate inlays completely intact for all of these years. The varnish looks like it would strip off the fingerboard easily if so desired. The varnish does not affect playing the banjo. The banjo has some light scratches and small dings here and there as expected on a 140 year old or so banjo, but overall for it's age the banjo is still in outstanding condition. The old tuners all work well, and the frets show little to no wear. Ivoride tuner buttons all look old and match. The fifth string's neck peg looks to be bone or ivory. Banjo has a newly mounted skin head. I have had this banjo for 6 or 7 years, and I have enjoyed it very much. It has a very nice crisp old timey tone, but like I said, it could use a good set up in order to play really well. There is no case with this banjo, but it will be professionally packed for safe shipping and fully insured. Shipping is a flat 50.00. Paypal payment only, payment to be made within 3 days of auction's end. Offering this very rare and collectible banjo for sale within the continental U.S. only, no overseas, no Canada, Alaska or Hawaii. I could send you additional close up photos of any part of the banjo if so desired, plus I have lots of other pictures including looking down the neck, close up's of each inlay, around the inside and outside of the pot, etc. just message me if you would like to see more photos. |
