1890s Bay State A-Scale 5-String Banjo

Overview: This strange little banjo is an 1890s Bay State (made by Haynes in Boston) 5-string with a short, A-scale-style neck and smaller pot. It was modified in the '70s (as a guess, and poorly) with the fitting of a replacement ebony fretboard. At some point later it received some geared pegs, too, and a Remo synthetic head and armrest. A weird adjustable-dowel gizmo was also added to the back of the rim, though it doesn't do much functionally. Also, while this was made for gut strings, the thicker board and bigger neck definitely allow it to be strung for steel, which it's been for the last who-knows-when. Post-fussing by us, it's now turned into quite the sweet player with an attractive, mellow sound and quite the "modern old-time" vibe.

Repairs included: I "scooped" the end of the fretboard to do away with badly-placed frets and also... give it a scoop! Max leveled and dressed the frets and I think Tim may have set it up and fit the new bone nut. There was a lot of massaging to do to make the replacement fretboard look nicer (its install was a little gross on the edges) and tidy-up the look of the instrument, but it's respectable, now! It's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 4 lbs 4 oz
• Scale length: 23 1/2"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: deep V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 1"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1 1/8"
• Head diameter: 10"
• Depth overall at rim: 2 1/8"
• Rim wood: ply maple w/spunover cladding
• Tonering: integral hoop
• Bridge: ebony and maple
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 10s (medium)
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium

Condition notes: Obviously, it's old and shows plenty of patina on its hardware and parts. The tuners are replaced, the head is replaced, the fretboard is replaced, and the armrest is non-original. It has a newer bridge, too, though we've compensated it. There's an added adjustable-dowel gizmo in heavy brass near the endbolt. We added side dots and a new 5th pip, as I recall. Some of the hooks are older replacements.

It comes with: Sorry, no case. I may have a gigbag to fit it well-enough, though, but no promises!

Consignor tag: MCLY