1920 Weymann Style 24 Resonator Banjo-Mandolin
Overview: I have always had a thing for Weymann instruments -- they're built very well and tend to hold-up to time's ravages like champs. They also sound good, have a professional feel, and a restrained but classy look. I think their closest comparable competitor (aesthetics and soundwise) was Vega. This is a pretty typical mid-grade Weymann banjo-mandolin but it has the advantage of having its original pop-on/pop-off resonator extant and in good health. It's a classy design that gives both a slick feel to the instrument with it on and an easy way to convert it to "openback" format as well -- bypassing thumbscrews, weird latches, bolt-systems, and the like.
Tone: It's clear, focused, clean, and has good power despite a mellower-sounding old skin head.
Feel: Weymann necks on their banjo-mandolins tend to be on the bigger side front to back but they nevertheless play quick and easy. This one has a medium-full C/V hybrid shape with a flat board.
Interesting features: The pop-off/on resonator is the best "quirk" but this also has the heavy-duty Weymann "dowel brace" gizmo that acts a lot like a coordinator rod in Gibson banjos. This helps keep the neck sturdy and stiff against the rim and reinforces the whole instrument quite a bit. As per the usual with Weymann banjos, all of the rest of the hardware is likewise heavy-duty and ready for the long haul.
Repairs included: Tim gave it a level/dress of the frets, cleaning, and setup work. It's playing spot-on and ready to go.
- Weight: 5 lbs 15 oz
- Scale length: 13 1/2"
- Nut width: 1 1/8"
- Neck shape: medium-bigger C/V
- Board radius: flat
- Head diameter: 9"
- Resonator diameter: 10 5/8"
- Depth overall at rim: 3 1/4"
- Rim wood: maple ply
- Tonering: none
- Bridge: original compensated maple
- Fretboard: ebony
- Neck wood: maple
- Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
- String gauges: 32w-9 GHS A240 set extra light
- Neck relief: straight
- Fret style: low/small
Condition notes: It's fairly clean with only minor usewear in evidence throughout and entirely original except for a shim that Tim added under the bridge foot to get the action where it needed to be.
It comes with: It has its original hard case in decent shape.
Consignor tag: KTZ
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