2000s Washburn B-9 Resonator 5-String Banjo

Overview: This is your basic, student-level, import bluegrass banjo of a sort that wears many different brand names. This one just happens to be a Washburn-branded one. The sound is warm and clean and poppy when the setup is dialed-in correctly and it sits nicely in a group and has decent volume. This same style of instrument (with the same aluminum rim design) has been made since the '60s -- first in Japan, then Korea, and now China and Indonesia and wherever else. I think the same molds have just moved-around and been copied endless amounts of times.

Interesting features: It has a Kay-style coordinator rod system (single rod, with a big turnbuckle) which makes action adjustments easy. Being a newer iteration of the same design, it has a better-quality tailpiece than older models and the neck is more stable and has an adjustable truss rod. It even feels nice and quick, to boot! Unfortunately, it still has a friction-set 5th peg, though the headstock tuners are geared.

Repairs included: I gave this a good setup and compensated the bridge. It's playing spot-on and ready to serve.

• Weight: 6 lbs 7 oz
• Scale length: 27 3/8" (pretty long)
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium-deeper V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 7/8"
• Depth at seventh fret: 59/64"
• Head diameter: 11”
• Resonator diameter: 13 1/2"
• Depth overall at rim: 3 1/4"
• Rim wood: aluminum
• Tonering: top of aluminum rim
• Bridge: maple/ebony
• Fretboard: rosewood or similar
• Neck wood: mahogany or similar
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 9s
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-modern

Condition notes: It's lightly-used with only minimal wear throughout.

It comes with: It actually has a hard case!

Consignor tag: CFFY