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majestic-01

majestic-02

majestic-03

majestic-11

majestic-13

I very highly ranked tenor banjo from the 1920’s era made by the puntillio Company, New York and featured in the famous Akira Tsumura 1001 banjo collection.

Its archtop tonering patent was issued in 1920 to Gaetano F. Puntolillo and it is this which gives this instrument its unique tonal qualities. It has a sweet sustain with bass resonance and a rich soft tone. I have it set up with a Remo 10-12/16″ white mylar head but if you are looking a brighter sound a clear head would certainly do the job.

Banjo details

The nine piece neck is constructed from brazillian rosewood with maple and green dyed pear wood either side and is perfectly straight with nice low playing action. The ebony heal cap also is sandwiched with maple and pear wood. The head stock has inlaid floral design and the Magestic name both in mother of pearl. The 19 fret ebony fret board is inlaid with mother of pearl position markers and the frets are all good. The resonator is crafted from pie crust style rosewood sections with ornate inlaid wood marquetry along the side.

The rim is 3/4″ thick multiply maple with mahogany veneer to the outside walls and maple to the inner walls. the tension hoop is held in place by 18 shoe brackets/hooks and nuts which pass through the curved nickel plated flange plate. Care and detailed attention has been put into the finish of the inside rim when you consider a calf skin head would hide it from view. The patented brass/nickel plated arch top tone ring rests on the rim and this is what gives this banjo its real sound. The inner resonator is curved and when attached to the rim the sound is projected through the holes in the flange plate. The neck is attached by a single 1/2″ thick nickel plated rod, all metal plating is in excellent condition and lacquered wood is also very good. I have since changed over the frosted top head to a new clear head. Comes with new TGI plywood hard shell case.

Sold

The Bouzouki build is very similar to the octave and large body models as it also is hand crafted from solid European spruce top, mahogany/sapele back and sides, 3 piece maple and sapele laminated neck. It has a rosewood fretboard (zero fret), 34mm ebony nut, and the neck is reinforced with two way adjustable truss rod. It comes in a choice of two scale length sizes, the standard 660mm (26″) and a short scale 600mm (24″) neck. Hand made brass tail piece, quality gold geared tuners, strong sounding, plenty of bass, with depth and warmth, great for chording or melodies, also available with an oval or round sound hole.

2017 prices

1. Custom Bouzouki ………. €1599
2. Standard Bouzouki………. €1499

Customise extras

• Adirondack spruce top ………. €50
• Englemann top ………. €50
• Quilted or flamey maple back and sides ………. €100
• Rosewood back and sides ………. €100
• Black walnut back and sides ………. €100