Exc(-) condition. Custom banjo from Deering, built in limited quantities. Beautiful Walnut neck and resonator. Resonator shows highest grade of Walnut quilted burl figuring. Ivoroid bindings on resonator, along neck and peghead. Colorful abalone purflings around sides of resonator and neck. Elaborate yet tasteful pearl inlays in Ebony peghead overlay and in Ebony fingerboard. Original 5-star planetary tuners with Amber buttons.

    This banjo was recently dismantled and all parts polished. It looks great - and plays great with a fresh new fret job. Some marks on back of resonator, but nothing major. Treble side of neck has marks on side near binding. Tone ring upgraded to Prucha/Ptacek tone ring in about 2002 for the previous owner. The newer tone ring showed immediate positive results then, and it still does now.
     This model now sells new from Deering for $5029, with a "list price" of over $6700. Even used ones usually sell for $3600... Take advantage of a great price on this great sounding example we have and save some serious money...

     The set-up is good, with nice med/low action. It sounds really great. The sound is very strong and full, with just the right amount of growl.

     Nearly new condition! No wear anywhere. Nice Maple with Walnut stain finish. Not even any signs of playing on the original head.

     In shop for set-up. More description and photos soon.

Great condition! Truly fine shape, with no signs of prior ownership.

Maple neck and rim, with tuba-phone tonering. Outside of rim has metal band under shoes. Ebony fingerboard. This banjo is not only in fine original condition, but also plays and sounds very nice. These banjos list for $3959 nowadays, so take advantage of this one in new condition for a fraction of that cost!

     

     Exceptional condition. Never really used!

     Mahogany neck and resonator with wood rim. Shoe and plate flange. Rosewood fingerboard with traditional "Flying Eagle" style inlays.

     These banjos usually cost about $550 with hard cases. Here is one that is "like new" at 25% off of that price. Even the case is in great shape. This banjo sounds good and is set-up good.

     Hand Made w/ all Gibson Parts.

     Exc(+) condition. Walnut RB-4 style banjo handmade by Greg Boyd from 100% authentic Gibson parts. We produced several of these banjos, and local players refer to them as a "GB-4".

     That's right... in the early 1990's we were very fortunate to have purchased a regular supply of authentic parts direct from Gibson. We purchased raw resonators (unsanded, unbound, unfinished), raw necks (inlaid by Gibson, but unfinished, unbound, unfretted and not shaped), raw unturned 3-ply rims, Kulesh "Gibson" tonerings, 1-pc flanges, tension hoops, and even this 2-pc Tube & Plate flange on this banjo. There were only a very few of the Tube & Plate flanges to buy, and I am sure it was the very old stock, as they match the late '20's and early '30's flanges and were nothing like the larger tubes on 1970's Gibsons. We had to buy the tuners ourselves, but used same tuners Gibson was using at the time.

     Many people can scoff and say this is not possible... but I was there picking up the armloads of necks, boxes of stacked resonators and rims, writing the checks and loading them into my vehicle.

     All in all we produced only about 20 or so of these banjos using all Gibson parts. This particular banjo was made by me for one of my best friends, Dave Kraus, a great area guitar player and singer, who never "took" to playing banjo. So... while this banjo does have some 16 years of clouding of the nickel, it is essentially hardly played. It does show signs of handling over the years, as I am sure it was taken out of the case for players to enjoy at Dave's famous pickin' sessions, but it has no problems and no significant fret wear.

     Neck was hand-shaped and bound by me, fretted and finished by our staff in our former store. Resonator was bound by me and finished in our store as well.

     There is no label, but there is writing on top of rim, below tonering, that states I made the banjo, and it is signed.

     After sitting for so long, we have replaced the 16-year old strings, polished up the nickel a little, and given the banjo a fresh set-up.

     It sounds great. It has big presence and a growly attack. And... it is essentially a true "Gibson", even though it was not assembled at the Gibson facility.

     Exc(-) condition. Made by George Houghton in England in late 1800's. Mr Houghton made instruments for several brands, but his own label was the "Reliance" Brand, which this banjo is.

     Walnut, with cut diamond and dot inlays in fingerboard overlay and a dot in peghead overlay. Tunneled 5th string. Original guitar tuner set has 6 tuners, though only 5 were ever needed for the banjo to be strung and tuned.

     Well made, with interesting design and construction. Neck heel is originally 2-pc and shows some separation at glue joint that needs repair.

    This is a nice banjo and is very collectible. It has all original parts and is playable. I have seen just enough of Mr Houghton's banjos with various brands on them that this is what I view as a "typical" English banjo.

     Comes with a newer hard case.

     Exc(-) condition. Some wear thru finish on back of neck, and button "trails" on back of resonator.

     This was the main banjo for a good local friend and customer of ours.  He played it avidly for 6 years in our area, attending many local festivals, campouts and jams. Unfortunately, he passed away suddenly a few months ago, so his banjo is available for someone else to enjoy as he did.

     Mahogany neck and resonator. Cream bindings on resonator and neck, with concentric circles in back of resonator. Waverly 2-band tuners in peghead, with Schaller 5th peg. Ivoroid tuner buttons. Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with r.r. spikes installed at A & B position for 5th string capo'ing.

     I realize that almost every banjo you read about on almost every webpage talks about 'how good' any particular banjo sounds... But I must say - everybody who plays in our area has commented on this banjo about how great it sounds. It is set-up well, and has a good "growl" and a flat 'brrr' sound even up high.

     Playability is fine and frets are in good shape with no divots or wear.

     Exc(+) condition. Banjo recently cleaned, polished and refurbished by Bishline Banjo. The banjo was taken apart and all original wood and metal parts were carefully cleaned and polished and reassembled. New fret job.

     Walnut neck and resonator. Ebony fingerboard with ODE's version of "Hearts & Flowers" inlay pattern inlaid in pearl.

     Exceptional original condition. No player wear or sign of prior ownership. This banjo has many great appointments: Figured Cherry neck and resonator, radiused Ebony fingerboard with Mother of Pearl Diamond Point pattern, concentric circles in back of resonator, tortoise multiple bindings, and the unique Copper Patina hardware. Amber tuner buttons on Ptacek 2-band tuners.

     The color of the finish really brings out the figure in the Cherry wood. The tortoise bindings, the copper parts and the amber tuner buttons blend in just wonderfully, to give the banjo a great look. And, as always, Mr Prucha's perfection of workmanship are stunning in the neck shaping, the inlays, bindings, fit of resonator - I could go on and on about it...

     Cherry wood banjos from Mr Prucha are pretty rare. In the last 13 years we've only had about 8 of them.

     This is a fine banjo, with only barely any evidence of being pre-owned.

 

    Highly figured Maple neck and figured resonator. Very nicely appointed, with many of the favorite options:

     Radiused Ebony fingerboard, with Abalone 'Falling Leaves' inlays in peghead and fingerboard, and Abalone truss rod cover. Ptacek 2-band vintage style tuners and Schaller 5th peg - all with matching Ivoroid buttons. R.R. spikes installed by Prucha at A, Bb, B and C positions, for 5th string capo'ing.

     Bindings are multiple Ivoroid on resonator and neck, with small colorful wooden purflings 'below' the bindings. The coloration of the finish is skillfully executed, with dark amber sunburst tones that accent the Maple quite well.

     The hardware is nickel plated 'matte'... This means the key parts were carefully glass-beaded, to prepare the brass and bronze surfaces to look 'frosted' after the nickel plating went on. The effect is great - it truly is understated elegance.

    Beautiful banjo, with highly figured burled Walnut resonator. The Walnut neck has nice bands of figure, as well. Ebony radiused fingerboard with abalone stylized parallelogram inlays. Multiple Ivoroid bindings, with black line showing on all quarters of resonator, and along sides of fingerboard. Nickel hardware, including Ptacek 2-band tuners. Schaller 5th string tuner. Ivoroid tuning pegs.

Maple neck and 3-ply rim. Ivoroid binding on neck. Beautiful engraved inlays in peghead and at scalloped fingerboard position. Double co-ordinator rod system for ease of adjustment into the future. Beaded bronze ring - it sounds great! The light ring sounds very close to a Whyte Laydie banjo with some dampener inside the rim. Ptacek 2-band tuners with vintage buttons. Excellent construction, excellent sound. 

     Exc (+) condition with almost no signs of prior use.

     Mahogany banjo with subtle traditional appointments: High grade straight-grain Mahogany neck and resonator; Concentric rings in resonator back; Multiple Ivoroid/Black/Ivoroid bindings showing on upper and lower sides of resonator, top and back of resonator, and along fingerboard; Double-cut peghead with Wreath inlay; Rosewood radiused fingerboard with traditional Wreath inlays and "Mastertone" block at 15th fret; Offset 2-band vintage style tuners; Solid pearl truss-rod cover; Solid Ivoroid tuner buttons.

     This banjo is set up and ready to play. The action is nice, frets are nice, etc. As far as values go, a new Wreath Custom banjo costs well over the price of this banjo.

     Mahogany neck and resonator. Rosewood fingerboard.

     These "Wreath" models are some of the most popular banjos that Mr Prucha makes. This "Standard" version is a little less expensive, having single white bindings on top and back of resonator, and along fingerboard, and no concentric circles in back of resonator.

     Resonator and neck are artfully shaded, to accent the beautiful Mahogany wood grain. Traditional "Wreath" inlays in double-cut peghead and in fingerboard. Mastertone block at 15th fret.

     Fingerboard is radiused. Tuners are Gotoh 2-band, with Gotoh 5th peg. All have matching antique cream buttons.  As always, Mr Prucha has installed r.r. spikes for 5th string capo'ing at A, Bb, B, and C positions.

     Beautiful highly figured seasoned Maple. Another "presentation grade" custom banjo from Jaroslav Prucha, the master luthier from Prague, who is in his 31st year of building great professional banjos.

    Elaborately engraved gold plated parts, with an extensive amount of deep-gouge hand engraving on tone ring, top and sides of tension hoop, top of Prucha 'Kirschner' tailpiece, top and sides of armrest, and on flange face.

     Multiple bindings, with tortoise main outer bindings. Very pretty wooden marquetry below the multiple bindings on sides of resonator and neck.

     Radiused Ebony fingerboard with "Bat" mother of pearl inlays. Matching inlays in the headstock. Solid pearl truss-rod cover. Vintage style "pancake" tuners with amber buttons. Schaller 5th string tuner with matching amber button.

    Resonator is carved solid wood "Massif resonator", made with bookmatched blocks of high grade Maple turned and then carved and voiced. This solid wood adds a satisfying "pop" and presence when playing.

     A new look from Prucha! Highly figured Burl Walnut resonator with highly figured Walnut neck. Radiused Ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl inlays. Multiple bindings showing multiple lines on all quarters of neck and resonator, with tortoise main binding.

     The hardware is mixed "Black Nickel" and Gold, with engraving on 2-hump gold clamshell tailpiece. Vintage style 2-band tuners with very cool iridescent amber buttons. The black Remo banjo head completes the look of this banjo - it really is quite a nice effect.

     Comes with great 5-ply TKL American Vintage hard case and lifetime warranty, and... r.r. spikes already installed at A, Bb, B & C, for 5th string capo'ing.

     Plays great, sounds great and is set-up for nice med-low action.

 

     Exc(+) condition. Highly figured Maple neck and solid carved and voiced "Massif" resonator. Only very slight signs of prior ownership. Very minor button trails on back of resonator that are hard to find. NO wear on frets.

     This is a pretty great banjo. Jaroslav Prucha made it for a reknown Czech Bluegrass and Jazz musician, Dalibor Cidlinsky. Being an adventurous jazz guy, Dalibor traded it back to Prucha around 2004/5 for a custom made Prucha electric banjo.

     As soon as I saw and heard it I immediately acquired it from Mr Prucha, for my personal collection. I kept it for 4 or 5 years, then sold it to buy a nice motorcycle (ahhh... the lure of the open road).

     Now the customer has traded it back to us for a Prucha Top Tension banjo that is on order for him... but I want to keep the motorcycle, so I can't put this one back into my personal collection.

     It sounds really great. I have set it up fairly relaxed, as well as pretty tight, to 'put it to the test'. It sounds great all thru these settings, with lots of presence and great attack. This is truly a fine sounding instrument.

     No-Hole archtop tone ring with 1-pc flange. Radiused Ebony fingerboard with high grade abalone 'fallen leaves' inlay in fingerboard and peghead. Multiple ivoroid/black/ivoroid bindings with wooden marquetry purfling under the binding on resonator top and back, and along fingerboard.

     Hardware is a tasteful mixture of 1/2 Nickel and 1/2 Gold. Amber tuner buttons. Ptacek vintage style 2-band tuners, with Schaller 5th peg.

     This banjo would cost quite a bit more these days, so take advantage of this special offering of a special banjo at a great price.

 

     Exceptional original condition. No player wear. Strongly figured Maple neck and resonator. Solid carved "Massif" resonator and neck. Radiused Ebony fingerboard with 'Falling Leaves' inlay pattern in abalone. Ebony peghead veneer with abalone inlays.

     Multiple ivoroid/black/ivoroid bindings on resonator. Ivoroid fingerboard bindings. Colorful wood marquetry purflings below bindings on sides of resonator and neck. Hardware is a tasteful mixture of Black Nickel and Gold plating. This hardware blend is well thought out and adds quite a bit to the overall look of the instrument. Even the tuners have been assembled to show off this effect.

     There aren't many Prucha banjos with the solid "Massif" resonators. These are made using solid blocks of Maple that are bookmatched, then turned inside and out with a recurve showing along edges (like a good mandolin back). Then they are hand scraped and tuned by Mr Prucha. The final effect is quite good. The player enjoys a satisfying subtle "knock" to the attack.

     This is a fine example of Prucha's high grade materials and craftsmanship and would be a fine playing tool for any serious player, or a fine investment for a collector.

     Exceptional original condition. Select Mahogany neck and resonator. White bindings on resonator and neck. Flat rosewood fingerboard. Hearts & Flowers inlay pattern in fingerboard and peghead. Vintage style tuners. R.R. spikes installed by Prucha at A, Bb, B & C positions for 5th-string capo'ing.

     Like all of the Prucha instruments, this banjo shows off his skill in the elegant neck shaping, the perfect binding, the frets, the nice inlay, as well as the fit of all the high grade parts and the beautiful finish.

     Frets show slightest bit of previous playing and resonator has one slight indented mar on back near binding... otherwise it is no different than a new one. It is freshly set-up to play and sound great. And... of course it comes with a great TKL American Vintage Hard Case.

     Mahogany banjo with simple, yet tasteful inlays. Good straight-grained Mahogany neck and resonator, with flat Rosewood fingerboard. Nice mother of pearl inlay pattern in peghead. Cut diamond inlays in fingerboard. Black bindings on resonator and along fingerboard. Matte finish.

     These Pioneer banjos are, of course, made with the same high grade rims and hardware used in the higher priced models, so you get a real professional tone.

     This banjo is set up very well and comes complete with r.r. spikes installed at A, Bb, B & C for 5th string capo'ing.

     And... they all come with good hard case and lifetime warranty.

This banjo works quite well and is better than most banjos in the market at this price range. Wood rim construction with brass bead tone ring. Mahogany neck and resonator w/ sunburst finish. Multiple white bindings on resonator w/ concentric ring in back of resonator. White bindings on fingerboard. Hearts & Flowers inlay in rosewood fingerboard. Planetary tuners. 

    We always spend plenty of time and care setting up these banjos before shipping them out. We tune the head, re-position the tailpiece, install a professional handmade bridge, and put great strings on them. In short - they sound great when they leave here...  Listen to sound sample

     Just in. Exc(-) condition. Sounds really great. Recent complete professional fret job. All original hardware. Just a few places showing evidence of player wear - no problems. Action is set nice and low.

    

 

This is a pretty cool old tenor, with engraved metal inset above the nut in the peghead veneer and an interesting armrest with punched-out moon and star designs. Kirschner tailpiece. Original friction peg tuners appear to have been replaced with a modern  set. Slotted tension hoop. Newer "Elite" head. Resonator and rim have wooden marquetry purflings.

    10 15/16" Tubaphone pot. Reproduction hooks and nuts and no-knot tailpiece. Beautiful reproduction style 3 neck, with very nice inlays and neck shape. New Krishot "pancake" pre-war style tuners, Schaller geared 5th peg. Ivoroid tuner buttons.

     Original tone ring, rim, bracket band, shoes, tension hoop and hide head (in good shape). Inside and outside of rim bound with Tortoise celluloid. 26 1/2" scale length.

     This is #21 of the great Kenny Ingram banjos by Will Williams. Made with top parts. Mahogany neck and resonator. Mr. Williams carefully mates a Jim Burlile tone ring with an old Maple 'factory floor' 3-ply rim in these models, to get a fine "growly" sound that is very resonant and expressive in the low register, and clear in the high register.

     Concentric circles in back of resonator. Comes with Keith 'Standard' tuners with matching ivoroid buttons.

     Will constructs these banjos with all hand fitting and hand finish. He takes great care in matching weights of tone ring and rim, as well as the perfect fitting of the ring to the rim, resulting in almost universal player satisfaction. Williams banjos have caught on and developed a solid reputation as being extremely similar in tonal response to original pre-war banjos. I have seen and heard this demonstrated by various professional banjo players playing authentic pre-war banjos head-to-head with new Williams banjos. Many other good players have seen and heard the same thing and are also convinced.

    Very nice Mahogany neck and resonator, with ivoroid bindings. Double-cut peghead, Rosewood fingerboard. Mother of pearl 'Hearts & Flowers' inlay pattern. Solid Mother of Pearl truss-rod cover. Gold hardware, including 2 Keith "D-tuners" at 2nd & 3rd strings and Keith Standard Pegs at 1st & 4th strings. All tuners have Ivoroid buttons. Burlile pre-war style tonering.

    This is a fine sounding banjo. It delivers a great growl with lots of presence.