Description
Exc- condition • SN: 3067
Three Ply Maple Rim
Wonderful Special Maple Figure
This 1986 Stelling Bellflower is quite a great banjo. Very special Maple figure in resonator and neck. It is much more unique of a Maple figure than the usual “tiger stripe”, “quilted”, bird’seye, etc. Some old timers would call it “Shell Maple” because the blocky figure resembles figure like in various abalone and pearl shells. The intense figure is further enhanced by a tasteful brown/amber translucent finish.
The resonator has wonderful figure, but the neck has such great unique figure that it would rival some war era Gibson Style 6 banjos for special Maple. The neck has an older repaired (but not cosmetically disguised), peghead break right at the volute that shows a little on the treble side peghead face and clearly shows in volute area.
The banjo is fully bound, with single cream binding around the headstock, multiple grained ivoroid along the edges of fingerboard and multiple grained ivoroid seen along resonator top and back edges.
The Ebony peghead overlay has pearl Stelling logo at top, with Stelling’s version of “Hearts & Flowers” pearl inlays sprinkled around the peghead. Tuners appear to be Nickel Schaller 2-band offset tuners (marked “Stelling”), and Nickel Schaller 5th. The flat Ebony fingerboard also has the same version of Hearts & Flowers inlay. “Bellflower” engraved pearl block at 19th fret. Neck heel has an ivoroid heelcap with multiple accent layers.
The excellent rim is also stained to match the neck and resonator. There is a Stelling label inside both rim and resonator. All hardwear is original and in great shape. Some parts show a little clouding from handling – mostly the armrest and tension hoop.
Its in excellent “minus” condition with a little player wear and the old repaired peghead crack repair. There is some very slight wear on first 3-4 frets that can be quickly polished out. And there are some shirt marks on back of resonator and a couple of dings along back of neck. Call for an accurate “in-hand” description.
This banjo was professionally disassembled, all wood and metal parts cleaned and polished, then reassembled. Comes with our great set-up and has it’s Original Hard Case.
