Liberty Tenor Banjo
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This is a very interesting project I started a while back, I acquired a 1926 Liberty tenor banjo neck with the intentions of finding a good pot to build a quality hybrid tenor banjo. It took a few years and I eventually bought a plectrum banjo made by the famous Majestic Banjo Company from New York. A good friend of mine Patsy Toman machined solid brass coordinator rods and setup the sleek low action on this fine vintage banjo.
Rim/pot details
Made from 3/4″ maple with mahogany outer veneer, spun over nickel plated flange, 20 ball end shoes and bacon hooks and nuts. The tone ring hoop is suspended on metal brackets pinned to the rim and fitted with a Remo frosted top head. The resonator is made from mahogany with maple rings to back and sides and matches the neck perfectly. All metal plating is in excellent condition.
Neck details
19 fret mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard and diamond shaped inlay markers. Head stock has ebony face plate with mother of pearl centre design and ‘Liberty’ branded name. Fitted with original friction tuners but can be upgraded to geared tuners of choice at extra cost. The neck is straight and frets are good, the action is set low and the sound is rich, deep and has beautiful sustain. You’ll not find a better sounding vintage banjo in this price range.
A little bit of history
The Liberty Musical Instrument Company of Chicago were only in existence for a short two year period from 1926 – 1927. Of course with a lot of banjo manufacturing companies, their background came from drum making. Nokes & Nicolai was a Boston, Massachusetts based musical instrument manufacturing company from 1912 to 1926. Prior to partnering with Nicolai, Nokes had a drum repair business of his own as early as 1911. In 1922 Nokes & Nicolai acquired the banjo business of Boston’s F. E. Cole Company. In 1926 Nokes & Nicolai merged with the Liberty Rawhide Company of Chicago, which had previously made only calfskin drumheads, to form the Liberty Musical Instrument Company. By 1928 the Liberty Company was bankrupt and it’s drum building equipment was sold at auction to the Slingerland Company of Chicago. I’m sure you may be more familiar with the names ‘Slingerland’ & ‘Maybell’ banjos, for further information on Nokes & Nicolai click my source info here
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