1926 Weymann Style 135 Resonator Tenor Banjo

Update 2019: This post has been entirely overhauled with new pics, a video, and a new writeup.

I originally sold this instrument back in 2012, but it's come back just recently (March 2019) after almost 7 years making music with a Mr. Ben. Weymann instruments are top-quality products from the time and were seen mostly in the hands of professionals. They're easily the same quality of build as a Vega product and have some of the most rugged, practical hardware made in the era.

This one is Style 135 per its markings and it has a serial number that places it at 1926. It's an openback instrument at heart that also features a slip-on resonator for easy on-off use. That makes it practical for a folkie player who may want to go back and forth between an "old timey" openback sound and a "vaudeville" or "trad jazz" sound. It's a lot less hassle than knobs or hooks.

Style 135 has no tonering but it does have a thick, multi-ply maple rim and a shaped top-edge. This gives it a clean, woody, but loud/poppy sound. You can hear it in the clip -- there's no lack of volume from this sucker with its resonator in place. It has a "medium" scale length at 21 7/8" and a fast, more modern-style neck which means it can flit between lead work and long-scale-style chord-melody playing in a pinch.

When I initially sold it years ago, I'd done some work to get it playing well and replaced the head with a Remo Renaissance which is still on it. It came back with a nice vintage-style armrest and 4:1 geared pegs added. I did a bit more work just today and now it's playing spot-on.

Work included: a fret level/dress, head tensioning, mild cleaning, and setup. It has a good, tall, 5/8" bridge on it and 1/16" overall action at the 12th fret, strung with 32w, 20w, 13, 9 gauges. I'd suggest using light gauges like this for standard CGDA to keep the neck straight. The neck itself is straight along the path of the fret tops but I did need to remove a teensy amount of actual neck warp (1/64") off of the frets themselves during my level/dress job.

Scale length: 21 7/8"
Nut width: 1 1/8"
String spacing at nut: 7/8"
String spacing at bridge: 1 5/16"

Head diameter: 10 1/2" with newer Remo Renaissance head

Side depth: 3 3/4"

Rim wood: multi-ply maple with maple veneer
Neck wood: maple
Fretboard: rosewood

Neck shape: flat board with slim C/V soft rear shape

Bridge: maple/ebony 5/8"

Nut: original bone

Condition notes: it's all-original save replacement 4:1 geared tuners, newer Remo head, new bridge, armrest, and two or three of the hook/nuts -- though those hook/nuts are vintage stock. It's also in good shape and pretty dang clean. There are two endbolt holes near the tailpiece -- one original and one (above it) added later.

It comes with: its original hard case. Some edges are duct-taped but overall it's in good, serviceable shape.

The mini face dots are joined by newer side dots.

I've added a shim at the heel to knock the neck angle back a little bit. That's the lighter wood you see bumping-up against the tension hoop.

The adjustable tailpiece is nice to have when setting your desired tonal response.

How about that beautiful flamed maple on the resonator?

The resonator has rosewood binding.

There's minor tape residue (from a pickup, maybe?) on the side of the resonator closest to the knee.

The resonator itself simply "slips" on and off the banjo.

The dual-screw-adjustable neck brace is tough and accurate.

It's joined by a nice coordinator-rod-like adjuster that helps to keep the neck even more secure to the rim.