Circa 1900 Acme Professional by Stewart & Bauer
Circa 1900 Acme Professional by Stewart & Bauer. One of the nicest banjos ever offered by Sears, Roebuck & Co. Though this instrument is not marked S.S. Stewart, it has many features associated with S.S. Stewart banjos. Cherry neck, iconic peghead shape, spun over rim and Stewart’s Common-Sense tailpiece. The cherry neck, with a carved heel, has several decorative colored veneers under the fretboard and peghead overlay. The ebonized maple peghead overlay and fretboard are both decorated with metal and abalone shell vine inlays. The fretboard has a 27-1/8” scale length. Tuners are modern ABM planets and a Schaller 5th. The 11” maple rim has a full metal spinover and 30 brackets. Only one nut is a replacement, but matches decently. The neck and rim are attached with one of Stewart’s patented neck adjusters. The original Common-Sense tailpiece has a nicely made reproduction rosette. As an approximately 125-year-old artifact, the condition is very nice. A little bit of first position hand wear and a number of dings and nicks here and there indicates it has aged gracefully. Currently strung with LaBella number 17 strings the tone is clear and bright. Almost like a steel string instrument. The price with a modern hard case is $2,000.