1920s Langstile I Tenor Banjo

Overview: Someone, apparently, took the time to make this a nice player's banjo before it even arrived here. It sports geared pegs, a modern head, and a modern-style downpressure tailpiece. That said, it did need some fussing to be truly spot-on, but now that it is, it's an excellent player. These Langstile instruments were made by Lange in New York (makers of Paramount and Orpheum banjos) and are like simplified versions of their higher-end line. These still look great and have upgraded trim and nice necks, but the rims usually sport simpler tonerings (this one is a hoop ring) and design elements.

Tone: It's bright, loud, clean, and a little sweet, too. It's perfect for trad jazz, old-time, or Celtic-style trappings and, in a pinch, will do folksy fingerpicking work easily as well.

Interesting features: The fretboard inlays are very classy -- as-is the headstock shape and inlay, too. It's luckily-equipped with modern geared pegs, too, and a synthetic head that means it's weather-stable compared to one sporting a vintage skin head.

Repairs included: It's had a level/dress of the frets, two bolts added near the neck brace for additional rim/neck rigidity, a replacement (period) bridge fit, cleaning, and setup work. It's playing spot-on and quick.

• Weight: 5 lbs 5 oz
• Scale length: 22"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: flat
• Head diameter: 11 1/2"
• Depth overall at rim: 2 3/4"
• Rim wood: ply maple
• Tonering: bigger hoop
• Bridge: maple/ebony 2-foot
• Fretboard: ebonized mysterywood
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32w, 20w, 13, 9 for CGDA tuning
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: low/small

Condition notes: Aside from the replacement parts, it's actually rather clean and good-looking for its age. It has some wear and tear here and there but it's not at all distracting. The tailpiece is a replacement.

It comes with: It's got an old chip case.

Consignor tag: RH