Author Archive

Lyon & Healy Washburn Tenor Banjo

Written by Paul Conlon. Posted in Banjo Archive, For Sale


Lyon & Healy Washburn Style A Model Tenor Banjo, c. 1925, made in Chicago, serial #2892 , shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, laminated maple and mahogany resonator.

A very classy mid-1920’s 19 fret tenor banjo from Lyon & Healy, labelled with their top-of-the-line Washburn name. The features are fairly high grade including a beautiful tiger-striped laminated maple neck, grained ivoroid-bound ebony fingerboard with dotted pearl inlay position markers, headstock inlayed with with a pearl floral pattern. Tone ring is the elaborate “cupped” or sometimes called ‘donut’ Washburn style. The resonator is tobacco stained birdseye maple and has a engraved metal flange attached to the outer edge at the top and diamond wood marquetry around both edges.

The vintage geared tuners are original Washburn type all working perfectly and keeping in tune. They have the original grained ivoroid buttons. The tailpiece is an original Kersher Unique marked “Lyon & Healy Makers” and there is an unusual Washburn-specific armrest with a dressed-away outer edge. Overall it is beautifully made at a very high level of craftsmanship. This is a lovely fancy banjo, and something of a rarity. A fine playing and sounding instrument especially suited to the Irish style with low action playing and a solid all-original collector’s piece.

Scale length is 23 inches. Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.). An excellent player, set up with a new Remo 3/4″ white smooth top head, new strings and bridge. The neck is straight with good frets and has been completely refurbished at pure banjo workshop. Comes with a vintage hard shell case.

For Sale: £980

Gibson Style A Carved Top Mandolin (1918)

Written by Paul Conlon. Posted in For Sale, Tune Archive


A beautifully cherished 1918 Gibson Style A mandolin in very good condition. Mahogany neck, Sheraton brown stained spruce top, carved, oval sound hole top is Red Spruce, the sides are Maple as is the carved back. The fingerboard and bridge are Ebony.. Original Gibson Tail piece, adjustable bridge, straight neck, good frets with low action, just fitted with new bronze phospher strings. Its very easy to play and has a sparkling clear tone that these mandolins are known for. Fitted with new vintage style waverly tuners but comes with the originals. The pick guard is long gone but these are available through the likes of ebay etc. I’ve owned this little mandolin for years but it’s time someone else enjoyed playing it. Comes with hardshell mandolin case with black fur lining.

For Sale £975

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