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Vintage 4 string banjo help, help help

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    Posted 14 years ago

    Mrbill100
    (5 items)

    Need help in determing the make of this banjo. Found this when going through the inlaws basement. Any help would be appriciated. Also, any idea of value would be great. Thank,

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    Comments

    1. Dave, 14 years ago
      If you find out please contact me cause I have one too same markings.I think they are a tenor banjo from the 1920's they call them a uke banjo.My Granparents were into vaudville band back then and thats were I got mine.
    2. acdtech, 14 years ago
      You should be able to take off the beacking and insade under the bridge should be the model or man. with date or other numbers
    3. chuck place, 14 years ago
      i got a simular banjo looks a lot like yours and i found on the internet that mine is a gibson kalamazoo. pre war. made probaly in the 30s. gibson guitars was doing poorley in the 309"s so they made some gibson kalamazoo tenor 4 string banjos and also some 5 string. hope this might help. chuck
    4. Ron, 14 years ago
      This is a tenor banjo. Tenor banjos have four strings and from 17 to 19 frets. Most have 17 frets. I'm a guitar player just getting into Tenor banjos. (They can be tuned like the top 4 strings of a guitar so a guitar player doesn't have to learn new chords.) What I often find helpful in identifying a banjo is going by the shape of the headstock. (That"s where the tuners are.) Look around on banjo websights and eBay (Ebay is NOT foolproof. Sellers often misidentify what they sell.) You must match the headstock shape exactly, curve for curve, and then MAYBE you might be able to identify what you have. DON't go by the inlays because a manufacturer will have often used different inlays for different models. In other words... 2 headstocks of the same shape but different inlays are possibly the same brand. This is not a fool proof method, but it often works. Also, remember that banjos are easily taken apart and owners often mix and match parts to make a "hybrid". The neck (along with the headstock) might be from one manufacturer and the pot might be from another or even custom made. Confused? Now you're getting the picture. Even banjo websights often contain misinformation. Try an older authority like a luthier who specializes in banjos.
    5. Toyman Toyman, 14 years ago
      I have one too and it was in the house when I bought it. Do you know if it has a bar accross inside of banjo base if you remove the back.Im just not sure if mine is a gibson.Someone else said it looked like one So it makes me wonder.Thanks john
    6. Nancy , 14 years ago
      The name on my 4 string Banjo is Robert E Peurson. Does anyone know what year it was made.
    7. nell, 13 years ago
      Have aWindsor Banjo nas 4 strings.It was made in Engand.What can you tell me about it.

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