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Paramount is one of the “big five” of the professional prewar tenor banjo makers, the other big four being (no special order) Gibson, Bacon & Day, Epiphone and Vega. Paramount was owned by William L. Lange who also owned Orpheum, Langstyle, and other banjo companies. The higher grade banjos have more expensive (and prettier) woods in them such as rosewood, holly, and ebony. Other banjo makers did the same thing with their banjos, the fancier they are, the rarer the wood and the more carving, marquetry, etc. on the banjos.

The Style D is made from holly wood, with the same built laminated maple rim & laminated holly resonator with a rosewood fingerboard. Although originally finished in a similar colour tone to maple but a whiter holly wood, I had this banjo professionally refinished in a tobacco brown sunburnt finish. I find the overall sound of the Style D very loud and powerful more so than any of the other Paramount models. The neck is slightly thicker also than the other models, maybe this is what gives it the extra sustain. The banjo is totally original and was shipped to me from San Francisco a couple of years back, see details below

Banjo Details

The neck is joined through the centre with carefully matched woods, glued in block design. The fingerboard is inlaid with original designs of mother of pearl, engraved with songbird motif. The heel and back of peg head are hand carved. The headstock has beautiful pearl inlay featuring the brand name William Lange Paramount Style D, this model has the indestructible page geared tuners, silver plated and genuine pearl buttons. All of the metal hardware is matt silver plated and includes the original swivel tail piece and hotdog armrest. Fitted with new Remo 11 – 02 white smooth top head and a handmade rosewood bridge. Comes with original Paramount case in excellent condition. I also give this Paramount a complete refret so there is many years playing ahead for it.

• Original (indestructible) page geared tuners (all working well)
• Hotdog armrest
• Paramount tail piece
• Nice Carving to heal & back of neck head stock
• Multi piece holly neck featuring holly & ebony centre blocks
• original paramount vintage banjo case with zipper dust cover.

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A short scale 17 fret open back tenor banjo from the jazz era 1920’s. Made by the owners of the famous Paramount banjo company William Lange in New York. I have sold a few of these models over the years and the owners will not part with them, so they definitely have longevity.

William Lange was an exceptional innovator of banjos, in particular tone ring systems. He is well known for his top quality Paramount & Orpheum line of banjos. Other Lange-designed banjos include the Langstile line and the Triple-X line, to name a few.

Banjo Details

2.5” deep rim laminated to 5/8” inch thick, veneered both inside and outside in bird’s-eye maple. Head edge has inlaid brass-hoop style tone ring. The original calf skin head has been upgraded with a Remo 11.5” white smooth top head. The tailpiece is a new Kershner type that controls break angle. Outer side of rim has are seated 30 cast nickel-plated shoe brackets. Original and complete nickel plated open-end nuts with double etched thumb grips and flat hooks. The bottom of the outside rim has a checkered wood marquetry and the bottom of the rim is nicely finished with a maple cap also with wood marquetry. Three-piece selected maple neck with centre rosewood strip. Ebony fingerboard spanning 17 frets with fancy cut off set angular pearl inlay, the peghead has corresponding inlay and Langstile logo badge. The neck is straight with good original frets. There is a powerful cutting tone and bass residues from this banjo with the combination of the white smooth top head and handmade rosewood bridge. The action is low which makes this instrument a dream to play. Also comes with its original compact vintage case in good condition.

Featured

• New strings gauges 12 steel, 18 nickel wound, 26 nickel wound, 36 nickel wound.
• Original vintage case in good condition
• 11.5″ Remo white smooth top head
• New handmade rosewood bridge
• Up-graded schaller geared tuners (£95)
• Straight neck with low action.

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