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Paramount Style C 19 fret tenor banjo made by the Rettburg and Lange Company New York. The woods used in the instruments do make a difference in sound. Maple tends to be brighter, Mahogany mellower, walnut in the middle. 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 C has a natural dark mahogany finish, laminated maple/mahogany rim, laminated mahogany resonator, laminated mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard. The Style C banjo is one of Paramount’s most attractive designs, richly decorated with elaborate wood marquetry and very fancy engraved pearl inlay. The overall look is dark finished mahogany with chain pattern wood edging, wood and celluloid binding, and coloured wood inlay. The mahogany neck is of multi laminate construction with carved heel, carved peg head back and multilayered wood binding with a chain marquetry inlay up the sides. The headstock is decorated with an extremely fancy engraved pearl inlay and the fingerboard has shaped and engraved pearl in a flying bird motif. The neck is straight with new frets and good action. Hardware includes the early Paramount flip tailpiece and the hotdog style armrest. Selling originally for $185, the Style C was a relatively affordable but still upscale professional grade tenor Banjo.

This Style C is in excellent original condition and has a beautiful tone. I have set so many up over the years, each of them have their own individual tone, depending on the head I install or different bridge etc.  I have upgraded the original Jos Rogers goat skin head for a brighter more powerful 11 2/16″ Remo smooth white top head. Which takes me to the detail & condition under the bonnet! The nickel plating throughout this instrument is in first class condition including the tone ring, so worth while showing of if you would prefer a clear head installed (extra). Comes with new TGI tenor banjo hardshell case with green plush lining.

Quick summary

• Original (indestructible) page geared tuners (all working well)
• Hotdog nickel plated armrest
• Paramount swivel tail piece
• Nice Carving to heal & back of neck head stock
• Multi piece mahogany neck featuring holly & died pear wood
• original vintage banjo case

For Sale £1575

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A lovely all original 17 fret tenor banjo from the 1920’s, matching serial numbers on neck and pot #10293. This is the style C model made by the Fred Bacon Banjo Company in Groton, USA. The 17 fret neck is made from mahogany with rosewood fretboard and MOP dot position markers, there is a nice profile to the neck, good frets and is perfectly straight. There is a well balanced sound from banjo, good bass and mid tones and good resonance. The headstock bears the Bacon name, the banjo has upgraded geared tuners. The rim is made from multi-ply maple and covered in mahogany veneer, 24 original shoe brackets, hooks and nuts all rust free and perfect plating throughout including the tension hoop. Newly installed 11″ white smooth top Clareen head that gives this little Bacon the power and brightness of a professional level hand made banjo. Has the thin curved rod adjustable armrest and newly installed clamshell tailpiece, (original broken but fixable) also fitted with new 12, 18w, 28w, 38w nickel strings and vintage Grover bridge. Comes with new plush short scale hardshell case.

Banjo details

• Scale length from inside nut to the bridge 21″ (534mm)
• Nut width 30mm
• Piecrust resonator width 12 – 3/4″
• Overall banjo length 30 – 3/4″
• Head size 11″
• Body height from resonator to tension hoop 770mm

For Sale £750