1880s Buckbee 12" Rim 5-String Openback Banjo

Overview: This is a nice old Buckbee-made banjo (it's unmarked but I am very familiar with the maker) and this style of instrument dates from around 1880-1885 or so but could have been made slightly later, too. It's got a large rim (12") and long scale (28") when compared to other banjos from the time, so it's likely intended as a more "professional" model. Someone had done some decent work to it before it arrived here, but Tim went over it fully and it's now a beautiful player with equally-good sound.

Tone: It's clean, bright, and chipper but with the nylon mellowness and a rounder sound from the large head. The FiberSkyn head gives it a pretty dry, mellow tone but it could be swapped for a Renaissance or frosted-top head to give the instrument more carrying-power and snap (like it needs it, haha).

Feel: I love Buckbee necks -- they're comfortably-wider at the nut and have an elegant, soft-V shape that moves into a rounder shape as you get to the heel. They're fast.

Interesting features: The 12" rim is sort-of rare to have on an instrument like this from the time. The last repairman added geared pegs at the headstock and a more-modern friction 5th peg. The tuners were likely violin-style friction pegs when it was "new." It has a ton of hooks, almost all of its original rim hardware, and a "spunover" rim style with nice, figured maple on the inside of the rim. We added a period tailpiece to replace a non-original tailpiece that was on it.

Repairs included: Tim gave it a fret level/dress, I helped him make a neck-angle adjustment shim and do slight adjustments to the joint, and then he set it all up and tidied it up. It's playing spot-on and is rugged and ready to go. Tim also fit the new bridge.

• Weight: 3 lbs 10 oz
• Scale length: 28"
• Nut width: 1 5/16"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: flat
• Head diameter: 12"
• Depth overall at rim: 2 1/8"
• Rim wood: flamed maple w/cladding
• Tonering: none
• Bridge: maple/ebony 2-foot, vintage-style
• Fretboard: ebonized veneer
• Neck wood: mahogany or similar
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: Nylgut light tension (do NOT use steel on this)
• Neck relief: a hair of upbow was "taken out" during level/dress, so "straight"
• Fret style: lower/smaller

Condition notes: The whole instrument got a fresh topcoat of finish at some point but it looks very much the same as the glowy-mellow original finish does on these, sans lots of wear and tear. The rim hardware is original save the tailpiece (period but not original) and head. Someone added a modern, Vega-style neck brace to it but it originally would have had two bolts fit into the heel (standard Buckbee practice). There is evidence of these bolts having been there but they're gone, now, and the holes were filled. The tuners are all non-original -- the 5th peg is friction-style while the headstock ones are geared.

It comes with: It has a lightweight "foam-style" case.

Consignor tag: GSM