1925 Weymann Style 150 Resonator 5-String Banjo

Overview: This is a fascinating old 5-string banjo. At the time this was made (serial points to 1925/1926 era per estimates), Weymann 5-strings were on the definitely-rare side and most Style 150 models that I've seen, worked-on, and sold have been tenor or plectrum models. This one appears to be an original-neck 5-string that has had some alterations done to it, though the bottom line of this instrument is that it makes a great "all-rounder" 5-string -- with the resonator on it can do a decent bluegrass impression and with it off it can get full-on old-time.

I got this banjo in an oddball trade and cash deal to help a buddy out and it sat for some weeks until I could get around to fixing it up properly. With it all buttoned-up, it now plays like a champ and has a quick neck and a nice, even-but-sweet, loud-but-not-overbearing tone. It has a "push-on/pull-off" resonator design so it converts to an openback setup very easily and for someone who wants a banjo that can change on a dime for a different band presentation, this does it!

Notes on the old repairs: The old alterations (not done by me) done to the instrument are interesting. The neck had its board off and an adjustable truss rod was installed at the same time. There's access at the heel and I widened the window of that access so it will be much easier to adjust for the next guy working on it a decade or so down the line. It was refretted but not leveled and dressed well at all so I dealt with that as well. The 5th-string railroad-spike capos were installed decently but are a little closer to the frets so it takes me 2 fingers to get them under in use. It has newer geared pegs installed but I reglued/reset the 5th peg (it was loose) and found a button for it that matches the style at the headstock. When the neck had the truss rod installed, I'm guessing that it was also slimmed down front to back (and perhaps a hair side to side) and refinished at the same time. To match the neck, the outside of the rim was also refinished to natural maple and the outside of the resonator, too. Weymann's original finish was the medium grey-brown stain that's seen on the inside of the rim (a quirky choice but one they used throughout the '20s). Remarkably, the new finish has much of the same luster and feel as the original, so it's not obvious at first that this was done.

Notes on my repairs: As noted, I leveled and dressed the frets. I then cleaned it up, adjusted the neck angle, swapped for a better button on the 5th peg, removed a wonky armrest, fit a high-quality tailpiece that's more old-time-flavored, fit a new Remo Renaissance head (it had a funky old FiberSkyn one on it which damped its sound way too much), reglued some of the replacement felt at the resonator grips, and set it up. It's playing spot-on and ready to go and despite the somewhat long scale length, the neck is perfectly straight with a set of medium-gauge strings on it.

• Weight: 7 lbs 3 oz
• Scale length: 27"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: medium C/D
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 0.87"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.92"
• Head diameter: 11”
• Resonator diameter: 12 3/4"
• Depth overall at rim: 3 1/4"
• Rim wood: ply maple
• Tonering: hoop
• Bridge: maple/ebony compensated
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: maple (flamed)
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 10s
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/lower

Condition notes: As noted above, it has some alterations. Please read the "notes on the old repairs" section for details. Aside from that, there's general mild-medium usewear in evidence throughout -- some lighter scratching here and there and some mildly-murky finished edges of the binding at the side of the neck. The compensated bridge has some extra slots in its top as I fit some new ones that give tighter spacing that suits the neck's width better.

It comes with: It has a nice-quality TKL hard case.

Consignor tag: JW