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Hunting
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This appears to be one of those banjo that were made by Buckbee after the style of Dobson.
A modest-looking, well-made, nice-sounding banjo. Very small fret position markers @ 5, 7, 9, 12.
I replaced the existing, worn-out violin-type tuners with grainy (Gabon ?) ebony violin-type tuners.
Peghead front and fingerboard is a gorgeous veneer, maybe rosewood? I have a very good condition Buckbee flush-fret banjo (in many ways similar to this one) that came to me with a high polish on the fingerboard and peghead front... I think this may have been how they left the factory. I cleaned but didn't polish this one, and the finish looks good enough to take a nice polish.
Yellowstone head rests on a rolled-over tone ring. Top and bottom of pot are rolled-over metal. Has a nice, broad, rounded heel.
"Minstrel" Nylgut strings and a repro ebony w/ MOP star tailpiece that I copied loosely from an old tailpiece (my "style C" tailpiece).
Most of the hooks & nuts appear original or else a good match. Hex nuts.
DIMENSIONS:
Head dia. = 9 7/8 in. 20 hooks.
Scale length approx. 23 3/4 in.
String span @ nut approx. 1 1/16 in
String span @ heel approx 1 1/2 in.
Bridge approx 1/2 in. tall
SETUP:
action @ octave approx. 1/4 in.
FLAWS:
Scuffing is typical for banjos of this vintage (my guess.... late 1800's). Pot & tension hoop metal are in good shape although tarnished. I cleaned but didn't polish the metal.
Violin-type tuners are quite a bit less easy to use than geared tuners. If you're not accustomed to violin-type tuners, they will take some getting used-to. Not really a flaw, but a caution for the first-time vintage banjo-buyer. The banjo stays in tune.
Head is a little scuffed but not damaged, doesn't affect the sound.
ON THE PLUS SIDE:
Very nice condition for a late 1800's banjo. Appears to be made by Buckbee to Dobson standards..... very well-built. Comfortable to play, well set-up.
SOUND CLIP
