Deering John Hartford 5-String Banjo – Cremona Brown – Includes Original Hardshell Case – New Old Stock – Used Mint
John Hartford was one of the most singular figures in American roots music — a Grammy-winning songwriter, fiddle player, riverboat captain, and banjo visionary whose approach to the instrument was entirely his own. When Deering approached him about a signature model, Hartford brought his deep knowledge of pre-war banjo construction and his conviction that a wooden tone ring could produce something that metal simply couldn’t. The result was the Grenadillo tone ring — made from a dense tropical hardwood used in marimbas, machined to sit atop the maple rim and produce a warm, complex, fundamentally woody voice that pre-war enthusiasts immediately recognized. Deering’s own description says it best: this banjo sounds like a vintage pre-war instrument when new, and as it plays in over the years it gains in volume and presence the way a fine violin does. The rim is 3-ply maple with tapered walls, the neck and resonator are flamed maple finished in Cremona brown satin, and the 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard carries Chuck’s elaborately beautiful Steamboat Gothic pearl inlay pattern — a tribute to Hartford’s lifelong passion for the steamboat era — culminating in an abalone block “HARTFORD” at the 21st fret. Planetary tuners with a geared 5th string peg, Deering True Tone tailpiece, notched tension hoop, armrest, and dual coordinator rods complete a banjo that is as visually striking as it is tonally distinctive. Made in the USA at Deering’s Spring Valley, California facility. At 9.5 pounds it is lighter than most resonator banjos of comparable quality, and the pop-on resonator design allows easy switching between the full resonator voice and a more open, airy open-back character.
This example comes from the inventory of a retired Deering dealer — never owned, never sold, just a shop demo that spent its life on display. Freshly strung and set up here at Mill River Music, it plays great and presents in essentially new condition with only the most minor shop wear. A genuine opportunity to save meaningfully off new pricing on a made-in-USA Deering signature model. Original hardshell case included.
- Make: Deering
- Model: John Hartford 5-String Banjo
- Configuration: 5-string resonator
- Serial number: H731
- Country of origin: USA (Spring Valley, CA)
- Rim: 3-ply maple, tapered walls
- Tone ring: Grenadillo wood (Hartford tone ring)
- Head: 11" frosted top
- Resonator: Flamed maple, Cremona brown satin finish, pop-on design
- Neck: Flamed maple, Cremona brown satin finish
- Fingerboard: Ebony, bound, Steamboat Gothic pearl inlays, abalone “HARTFORD” block at 21st fret
- Scale length: 26-3/8"
- Nut width: 1-3/16"
- Frets: 22
- Tuners: Deering planetary, geared 5th string peg
- Tailpiece: Deering True Tone
- Tension hoop: Notched
- Hardware: Nickel
- Armrest: Deering
- Weight: 9.5 lbs
- Modifications: None
- Condition: Used Mint – new old stock from retired Deering dealer, never owned, freshly strung and set up, minor shop wear only
- Includes: Original Deering hardshell case
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value. International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don’t list it until we’d be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we’re committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you’re supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We’re here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.