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Hunting
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Good mechanical shape, scuffing and wear typical for a vintage banjo. I installed rosewood violin-type pegs, Nylgut "Minstrel" strings, Yellowstone banjo head, & one of my repro brass/hardwood tailpieces.
DIMENSIONS:
Head dia. = 10 1/2 in., 16 hooks.
Scale length = 25 7/8 in.
String span @ nut = 1 in
String span @ heel = 1 1/2 in.
Bridge = ~ 1/2 in. tall.
SETUP:
* action @ heel = 1/2 in.
FLAWS:
This was not an expensive banjo when it was new, and the finish is a bit rough. Not ugly, just rough.... see the photo of the back of the peghead.
Uses violin-type pegs ....not really a flaw, but takes some getting used to if you've never used them. These are less precise than geared tuners, and take more attention than geared tuners. The banjo stays in tune.
Was missing the dowel yoke hardware, so I installed a brass bar and screw to secure the pot to the heel.
The ends of the frets on either side of the fingerboard protruded and were sharp, perhaps due to wood shrinkage (?) I filed & smoothed.... not a problem now.
A small pucker in the head at the 1 o'clock position. Doesn't affect sound or playability.
Overall, not the prettiest girl at the dance, but fun ! !
ON THE PLUS SIDE:
Minimal wear to frets and fingerboard.
Nice tone & volume, seems to like the Nylgut Minstrel strings. Playability is very good, overall in medium-good shape. Some Supertones are "wobbly"... I shaped, shimmed, & reglued the dowel/neck/pot area so that it is stable & true. A good, inexpensive, vintage banjo from the early 1900's.
