NBD: 1895 Lyon & Healy (Banjo related)

25-1/2" scale, an 11" spunover rim
mahogany neck-all new frets, steel rod neck reinforcement(OEM)
1 1/4" nut width
5 1/4 lbs
Tone is bright and precise.
neck is straight and low action, plays like a brand new one. using light gauge steel strings.


repairs & adjustments include: new French polish finish on the neck, refret, neck reset, installation of ABM planet tuners, a Schaller 5th tuner, new hooks and nuts, and a new Renaissance head. Needless to say, it plays beautifully.
purchased via Smakula Fretted Instruments, Elkins WVa. paid $1400, well worth it! (third one I've got from these fine folks, all 3 are top shelf in looks, function, playability).

Attachment 187314
Attachment 187315
Attachment 187316
Attachment 187317
Attachment 187318
Attachment 187319
Attachment 187320
Attachment 187321
Attachment 187322
Attachment 187323

May favorite five-string is a Fairbanks Senator I bought from Bob decades ago. It still sings like a bird. That L&H is very nice.

Are you pleased with the tuners?

I have a Washburn 5 string from that era, with friction tuners, and would love to move to planetary tuners and a easier 5th string tuner as well.

I'm not at all knowledgeable when it comes to banjos so I'm interested in any solid experience based advice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BradKlein

Are you pleased with the tuners?

I have a Washburn 5 string from that era, with friction tuners, and would love to move to planetary tuners and a easier 5th string tuner as well.

I'm not at all knowledgeable when it comes to banjos so I'm interested in any solid experience based advice.

---

Brad

yes, like these tuners very well.

I like these older banjos I've gotten from Bob a lot, everything works as it should, they note as one would expect a brand new banjo to do, so its like you get the vintage vibe and flavor, but none of the ill fitting/working items, the frets are just excellent, the neck doesn't have a 1/4" relief, it just makes it nice to have an old soul with a young spirit and parts. makes playing fun and very enjoyable.

if you really like your banjo and want to make it the best it can be for not a lot of $. I'd email Bob with some pictures, tell him what you'd like to happen for your banjo and he will give you a price quote. ship it to them, let them put the magic in it(and it will play like magic when you get it back), and end up with a killer vintage style instrument that plays and feels and works like a brand new top shelf banjo.

d

Thanks Daryl. I appreciate the advice, and hearing about your experience.

+1 for Bob.

As an aside, Bob and I got to know each other in the mid-1980s when we both participated in a weeklong class with Jethro Burns at Augusta Heritage Arts. What a trip to be in that class—Jethro was amazing— and on top of that Bob met his wife there that same week.