1890 Buckbee Style Guitar Banjo, As-Is Project
1890 Buckbee Style Guitar Banjo, As-Is Project. With it’s 38 brackets, this banjo is a survivor of what collectors call “The Bracket Wars”. A time period around 1890 when makers of introductory level banjos used the addition of more than the necessary brackets as a way to enhance the image of their student grade products. “More is better” if you will. The neck is walnut measuring 1-1/2” at the nut slot (the string nut is missing). The ebonized hardwood fretboard has a 25-1/4” scale length. It also appears that there is a patch repair/modification going from the 3rd fret to the 9th fret. My impression is the banjo left the factory with that modification. The bottom spun-over rim (no metal over the top of the rim) is a little out of round and about 10-11/16” in diameter. All 38 original hooks, nuts, and shoes are on the banjo. The walnut dowelstick looks new, so the neck was likely reset. Set it up as a guitar banjo, make it a low bass 6-string with a thumb string, or even make a new neck and convert it to a traditional 5-string. Just be glad to know that our $275 price tag is less than the current cost of a new banjo tension hoop, 38 brass hooks, shoes, and nuts.
This instrument is not available for international shipment.