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Here we have another of the great tenor banjos set up for the Irish tenor banjo scene. Clifford Essex top tension 19 fret tenor banjo, which started its life as a plectrum banjo and was professionally converted to a tenor by the renowned luthier Robert Aylward. The top tension Paragon sound different to the CE models, the sound projection from the tone chamber excels power and pure tone. When you want volume, you got it, when you want sustain, you got it. As with the Epiphone range of tenor banjos, Clifford Essex Paragon stand side by side in the ranking of ‘want to own’ top tenor banjos.

Banjo details

19 fret maple neck with centre laminate strips with white side binding, black dot position markers and ebony fretboard. Original mother of pearl inlay on fret board and headstock bearing the Paragon name. The new neck is fitted with a truss rod for extra stability and new frets. The gold plated geared tuners are vintage Grover type 2 in perfect working order. The rock maple heel cap is also multi laminated and is profiled exactly as the original plectrum neck. The pot assembly is all original with excellent nickel plating throughout. Original Clifford Essex tailpiece and tailpiece slide cover. Original armrest with height adjuster. The rim is constructed from 1″ block maple with 20 drilled holes through to the perforated tone ring. This unique construction creates a passthrough for the soundwaves to deflect of the concave resonator and then projecting the sound out through the holes in the flange. This banjo is solid in construction, from the tension hoop, tension bolts, flange, tone ring etc it just reflects the mastery of the Clifford Essex Banjo Company. The concave resonator is not only is designed for sound reflection but also sits nice and snug against your tum! No need for description here, the photos tell it all.

The banjo comes with the original Clifford Essex plectrum case in great condition.

For Sale £4375

Have a listen to the sound of this fabulous Paragon by my good friend Miceal Mullen

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A little bit of history

The Stelling ‘Flagship’ model ‘The Staghorn’ was introduced In 1975,  Alan Munde introduced the Stelling banjo to an international audience by playing the second Staghorn ever made with the Country Gazette. Since then, the Staghorn has remained one of the most desired banjos in the world and has become the trademark model of Stelling Banjo Works. The increasing rarity of the materials such as the highly figured Claro walnut used in the neck and resonator, and the colorful abalone shell out of which the inlays and trim are cut make this model one of the ultimate sound investments. Built from fancy walnut with gold engraved plated hardware. Complete with a Stelling deluxe TKL emerald green crushed velvet plush lined case.

Not many tenor banjos were built by Stelling, this particular model with a serial number 0f #4085 was constructed in 1994 and has many custom upgrades i.e. matt gold plating and Albalone inserts to fingerboard and resonator.

The Pot Assembly:
• Tony Pass 600TS Old Wood Rim
• Stelling Bell-Bronze tone ring
• Double Stelling design 3/8” diameter coordinating rim rod set
• Highly figured Claro walnut detachable resonator bound with ivoroid and natural abalone.  Has the ‘Stag Horn’ emblem in the centre
• Ivoroid and black binding on resonator with Stag emblem
• Stelling design intricate cut die cast flange
• Stelling cast polished & matt gold plated tailpiece – with Stelling logo
• Stelling birch hand crafted  ebony tipped bridge
• Stelling armrest – highly polished matt gold plated – with Stelling logo

The Neck Assembly:
• Claro walnut neck – fully bound to match the resonator in ivoroid and natural abalone
• Ebony fingerboard with polished nickel silver frets
• Intricate Abalone ‘Staghorn’ inlay design in fingerboard
• Compensated ‘Stelling’ Bone top nut• Black side dot markers
• Stelling Professional gold plated planet geared tuners
• Ivoroid tuner buttons
• Stelling ‘Staghorn’  abalone inlaid ebony faced headstock
• Adjustable neck truss rod
• Black bell truss rod cover

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