-----------
-----------
-----------
Hunting
-----------
-----------
Dowel is branded "Concertone". Must have been a boring day at the factory, because the inside of the pot is also branded "Concertone" near the heel.... I haven't seen a Concertone branded like this before. I didn't brand my logo on this banjo.
Tailpiece is a plain, vintage piece. Peghead tuners are original, but I replaced the missing tuner screws with modern machine screws. I replaced the broken 5th string tuner with a Stewart-MacDonald replacement.
This banjo uses a heavy iron tone ring. I suspended the tone ring on brads driven into the top of the pot. Nice, figured bird's-eye maple pot exterior. Original finish on pot and neck is in pretty good shape.
I routed a shallow, brass-floored frailing scoop above the 15th fret.
The peghead front was plain - I added two small MOP inlays, also replaced the dot MOP 5th string inlay with a MOP star.
Head is a vintage calfskin. It had a small, thumbnail-sized tear near the taipiece which, although it looked stable, I repaired by putting a small calfskin patch on the tear (using Locktite Sumo glue) on both sides. This should keep the tear from spreading, and doesn't really take away from the appearance too much. The head is a little slack.... due to the repair, it probably shouldn't be tightened too much.
DIMENSIONS:
Head dia. = 10 3/4 in., 20 hooks. Shoes, hooks and nuts appear original.
Scale length 26 3/8 in.
String span @ nut=15/16 in
String span @ heel = 1 1/2 in.
Bridge = slightly under 1/2 in. tall
SETUP:
* action @ scoop = 5/16 in.
* action @ octave = about 1/8 in.
* Martin-Vega medium gage steel strings
FLAWS:
Normal scuffing due to age. Overall the reddish finish is pretty good, a little worn @ the left hand position. Peghead is a little bit discolored as shown.
Skin head has been repaired.
Replaced missing peghead tuners with modern machine screws.
ON THE PLUS SIDE:
Sound and playability are very good. Has a clear, bright sound for a calfskin head, maybe due to the new tone ring suspension.
CLIPS
YouTube Granny Will Your Dog Bite ?
