1880s Buckbee-Made 5-String Openback Banjo

Overview: I'd worked on this many moons ago for its owner. It's just recently come back in trade and all I had to do was give it a good scrubbing-down and fit a fresh set of strings. There are no markings on this instrument but I've worked on close to 100 examples of old New York, Buckbee-made banjos and this is definitely one of them. The firm was one of the largest builders at the time and later went-on to become Rettberg & Lange after the turn of the century.

This particular banjo is a pretty typical late-1880s/early-1890s example of their output save that it has very cool (silver?) metal inlay in the board and the dowel is made from metal rather than wood. The rest of the design -- spunover rim, 8-shaped headstock, etc. is normal.

I love the sweeter/more-direct sound of gut-strung banjos (this has Nylgut on it) and they were what really made me excited to work on instruments full time almost 20 years ago when I bought a number of them at auction. A Buckbee very much like this one lived in our collection for a long time after and I have always had a soft spot for them.

Repairs included: Previously, this got a level/dress of the frets, new head, new bridge, new tailpiece, replacement (older) friction pegs, and setup work. It's still playing spot-on.

• Weight: 3 lbs 10 oz
• Scale length: 25 1/4"
• Nut width: 1 5/16"
• Neck shape: medium V 
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 10 3/4
• Depth at seventh fret: 2 1/8"
• Head diameter: 11”
• Resonator diameter: 11 1/2”
• Depth overall at rim: 3 3/4"
• Rim wood: maple
• Tonering: integral/spunover hoop
• Bridge: maple/ebony
• Fretboard: ebony veneer
• Neck wood: likely cherry
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: Nylgut normal tension
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/low

Condition notes: Obviously, it's pretty worn at all of its edges. The frets are on the flatter-feeling side but work just fine for the Nylgut strings. The nut, tuners, head, bridge, and tailpiece are all non-original. 

It comes with: It has a nice, hard case with some stickers on it.

Consignor tag: JW