1960s Harmony ResoTone 5-String Banjo

Update 2022: the owner upgraded to a pretty fancy banjo so this is here for sale. I've updated the photos, video, and description as needed.

A local customer brought this neat ResoTone in for repair. I've seen tons of these banjos and they all pretty much play like garbage until they receive service. After service, though, they really are great instruments -- despite themselves!

The necks have a long scale length and a quick, easy, bluegrassy profile to them. The rims are lightweight as they're molded. Tone tends to be warm, clean, and mellow with less ring and sustain than a wood rim. I usually prefer to put Renaissance heads on these to bring out a little more sparkle and ring, but the owner opted for a FiberSkyn one instead.

It does sound good on this banjo, but it's necessary to tack the bridge down in place once you've got it intonated with a little double-stick adhesive or a drop or two of glue because the FiberSkyn texture means your bridges will slide all over the head as you tune up and down otherwise. I've penciled the location in on this guy and tacked it with a dot of glue.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, new 5th peg tuner (for some reason the shaft turns in reverse of normal, though it works just fine), some fretwork (seating, level/dress), a 5th string "railroad" capo at fret 7, new head install, new (compensated) bridge fit, replacement tailpiece, double-bolt reinforcement for the neck joint, and setup. This is pretty average work for one of these.

Rim wood: synthetic

Tonering: none

Bridge: maple/ebony

Fretboard: ebonized maple

Neck wood: poplar

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast)
String gauges: 9s

Neck shape: medium V

Board radius: flat

Truss rod: non-adjustable steel

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium-lower

Scale length: 26 3/4"

Nut width: 1 1/8"

Head diameter: 11”

Depth overall at rim: 2 1/2"

Weight: 3 lbs 15 oz

Condition notes: it's all-original except for the 5th peg tuner, head, nice tailpiece upgrade, and bridge. It's got mild usewear by way of small scratches and nicks here and there but is in overall great shape.