1924 Weymann Style 40 4-String Banjo-Mandolin

Overview: Weymann was known as a high-quality, professional-grade make of banjos at the time this was made -- in the same realm as Vega. Their instruments are sturdy, functional, and even the simpler varieties (like this guy) are built to a high spec. Per its serial number it dates to 1924 and it's marked with 40 as its catalog style number. I have been modding most of the banjo-mandolins I have custody over into 4-string variants because they're easier to tune and keep in tune and have a mini-tenor-banjo sound that's very useful in a band setting.

Tone: It's sweet overall but has good pop and snap with plenty of volume.

Feel: It's pretty typical for the time with a medium-bigger-heft neck with a C-shaped profile. The board is flat.

Interesting features: Weymann's neck stabilizer gadget on the back of the dowel and heel is a take-off on the old SS Stewart reinforcements of the 1890s and something all traditional dowel-stick-style banjos should probably have as it really does work to keep the neck/pot joint stable. The rim is heavy-duty, multi-ply maple and all of the hardware is rugged, too. The covered-plate tuners are a nice touch.

Repairs included: It's had a level/dress of the frets, mod to the tuners to bring them down to 4-string, side dots added, and setup work done. It plays spot-on and is ready to go.

• Weight: 5"
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: medium-bigger C
• Board radius: flat
• Head diameter: 10 1/2"
• Depth overall at rim: 2 3/8"
• Rim wood: ply maple
• Tonering: Little Wonder-style hoop-in-sleeve
• Bridge: homemade (nice job) replacement
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32w, 20w, 13, 9
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: small/low

Condition notes: It's in very good shape and pretty clean but does have completely replacement hooks/nuts on the rim, a replacement bridge, and a Remo synthetic head. The rest, however, appears original throughout and the finish shows mild wear here and there but overall looks nice.

It comes with: There's a presumably-original hard case in decent shape.

Consignor tag: JW