Lyon & Healy Washburn Tenor Banjo

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Lyon & Healy Washburn Style A Model Tenor Banjo, c. 1925, made in Chicago, serial #2892 , shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, laminated maple and mahogany resonator.

A very classy mid-1920’s 19 fret tenor banjo from Lyon & Healy, labelled with their top-of-the-line Washburn name. The features are fairly high grade including a beautiful tiger-striped laminated maple neck, grained ivoroid-bound ebony fingerboard with dotted pearl inlay position markers, headstock inlayed with with a pearl floral pattern. Tone ring is the elaborate “cupped” or sometimes called ‘donut’ Washburn style. The resonator is tobacco stained birdseye maple and has a engraved metal flange attached to the outer edge at the top and diamond wood marquetry around both edges.

The vintage geared tuners are original Washburn type all working perfectly and keeping in tune. They have the original grained ivoroid buttons. The tailpiece is an original Kersher Unique marked “Lyon & Healy Makers” and there is an unusual Washburn-specific armrest with a dressed-away outer edge. Overall it is beautifully made at a very high level of craftsmanship. This is a lovely fancy banjo, and something of a rarity. A fine playing and sounding instrument especially suited to the Irish style with low action playing and a solid all-original collector’s piece.

Scale length is 23 inches. Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.). An excellent player, set up with a new Remo 3/4″ white smooth top head, new strings and bridge. The neck is straight with good frets and has been completely refurbished at pure banjo workshop. Comes with a vintage hard shell case.

For Sale: £980