Made around 1925 by the Rettburg & Lange Company who built the famous Paramount banjos the build is all quality, nice heavy-duty hard maple rim with fancy veneers as well as a good maple “rim cap” on the bottom. flamed-maple 5-piece neck with bound centre maple strip sandwiched between 2 strips of ebony for strength.  21″ short scale fretboard (17 frets), and detailed multi-layer headstock veneer, the inlay positions are fanciful symmetrical decorations made up of flourishes of flora. It has a nut width of 1 1/8th”, a fingerboard width at 7th fret of 1 5/16″ and at the last fret the fingerboard measures 1 1/2″.  The machine head tuners are original Grover pancake geared tuner all in perfect working order. The instrument is loaded with the Orpheum-style archtop tonering which is seated on flattened stud appendages that then connect to the outer sleeve where the edge of the head is mounted. This whole contraption is half of what gives the Orpheums their magical sound — a projecting, bright but warm tonality with overtones and sustain that complements rather than detracts from the overall sound. All of the original ‘rusty’ hooks and nuts have been replaced with quality brass/nickel plated stewmac replacements, also a new clamshell shell tail piece has been fitted to give extra leverage to the bridge thus improving the overall sound.

This little banjo is a dream to play with low action and well suited for a fiddler or mandolin player wishing to move onto a new instrument. The banjo comes with its original case in fair condition. The banjo can be played as an open back, or a metal/wooden resonator could be purchased for it which can be found from time to time on ebay.

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Very rarely do I come across a vintage Leedy tenor banjo especially in excellent condition. This tenor banjo comes from the collection of Joseph Sobell from Tenessee, musician, poet, story teller and quite a legend. Anyhow its good to drop a name! I purchased the banjo from him some months back as he is down sizing some of his collection of instruments,so I was fortunate to purchase the Leedy Solotone. Probably not a banjo brand you are familiar with but they are very much under rated and stand long side all of the vintage branded banjos from the 1920’s i.e. Paramount, Bacon & Day, Gibson, Majestic. but they look and sound amazing.

Banjo details

Gold plated engraved metal-clad wood rim with top tension adjustment hoop. This type of design allows easy head tension adjustment. The resonator has a celluloid back covering with white inlaid design and gold plated metal flange. The inner part of the resonator is fitted with the patented cone to reflect the sound outwards, maybe this is how they give their unique sound. There are 28 hooks & brackets, Kershner tail piece and custom made Farquhar bridge.

The 5 piece neck is constructed from tiger maple sandwiched with green pear wood either side of the ebony centre, the side walls are bound with diamond shaped marquetry wood. There is a nice heel carving in the Style C model and a neck angle ajustment in the heel cap which works well. The neck has a scale length of 22-3/4″  is perfectly straight and shows little wear as does the 19 frets which are in great condition. The ebony fret board is beautifully inlaid with floral design pearl position markers. Bone nut and pearl inlay head stock bearing the brand name ‘Leedy Solotone’. Gold plated Grover tuners in perfect working order. The banjo plays very easily with low action up the fretboard and is in perfect tonal tune. It comes either with its original vintage brown leatherette case or with the quality ruby fur lined hard case shown in the pictures.

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