1880’s Banjo with Louis Haas, Philadelphia Badge Project
1880’s Banjo with Louis Haas, Philadelphia Badge Project. Though tagged with an embossed elliptical badge that reads “Louis Haas, Philadelphia, PA, I get a New York City vibe when examining this banjo. Likely purchased from a NYC maker and re-badged. The neck appears to be cherry with ebonized maple peghead overlay and fretboard. The peghead has most of an engraved urn inlaid with mother-of-pearl shell. The fretboard has pale abalone on end squares for position markers (diamond shape at 10th fret) and the initials FP at the end of the 25-3/4” scale fretboard. The rim is maple and spun over with German silver. There is a steel wire is the bottom of the rim. The top has the head resting on bare wood. 30 brackets and the nuts do not match, other than they are all 1/4”. The rim diameter is 10-3/4” and has a Remo frosted Weather King head. With your handy skills you can bring this banjo back from being ignored to a great playing banjo. Price is $225 and includes a Superior II gigbag.