2000s Deering Crossfire Electric 5-String Banjo

This Crossfire was a touring companion of Mr. Bow Thayer for quite some time. It's got small nicks and dings here and there in the body and a generous amount of random usewear throughout, but it's looking respectable and loved. He definitely played the heck out of it and warmed it up for all of the players that will follow. 

These are "electric banjos" in the purest sense of the word -- there are two EMG active pickups shoved right up against the head inside the instrument and the bridge pickup actually senses metal plates on the bottom of the bridge rather than the strings themselves, giving it more of an "acoustic banjo" sound in that position. There are early '30s-era "acoustic pickups" meant for violin-family instruments that worked in the same way and I find it fascinating that the idea was carried-over into the modern age with something like this Crossfire.

An interesting note is that the body/rim features a full, 11" banjo head with proper hooks (adjustable through the rear of the body) and tension hoop. It's a slick design and sits comfortably in the lap.

It arrived here for sale needing a bit of TLC and that work's done and it's now playing spot-on and is ready to go.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, cleaning, new 9V battery, pickup balancing, replacement 5th peg tuner, setup, etc.

Weight: 9 lbs 6 oz

Scale length: 26 1/8"

Nut width: 1 3/16"

Neck shape: medium C/D

Board radius: flat

Body width: 13 5/8"

Body depth: 1 13/16"

Head diameter: 11"

Body wood: alder

Bridge: maple/ebony

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: figured maple

Pickups: 2x active EMG humbuckers

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 9s

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Condition notes: as noted, it has plenty of playwear in the body -- small nicks and dings and scratches and some "rubbed-down" areas where the finish is dulled. The 5th peg is a replacement and so is the bridge, but it's otherwise original.

It comes with: an original hard case.