Rickard Custom Dobson 12" Banjo Walnut with Purfling Band #1893

Banjo Studio is proud to be an authorized Rickard Banjo dealer. You are viewing the actual banjo that you'll be purchasing.

The Rickard Custom 12" Walnut Dobson Openback Banjo is a blend of classic 19th-century traditional aesthetics and modern precision engineering. Handcrafted by builder Bill Rickard in Ontario, Canada, it is constructed from premium North American walnut and outfitted with custom-machined hardware. The 12" pot delivers a warm and earthy voice that is a favorite of clawhammer and old-time players alike.

What makes it unique:

Custom Rickard Bullseye Style Bracket Shoes & Belly Style Tension Nut: These give the exterior of the rim a unique look.

Custom Woodwork: The 1/2" thick walnut rim is detailed with a rim cap and a purfling band. The walnut neck is super-smooth, with a traditional Dobson-style heel and a two-way adjustable truss rod for stability.

Dobson Tone: A custom antiqued brass Dobson tone ring, made in-house by Rickard, gives a resonant, plucky sustain that fills the room without sounding harsh or brassy.

Clawhammer Playability: The 25.5" scale ebony fretboard has an acrylic star inlay and a custom "S" curve frailing scoop, so your thumb can move comfortably up over the neck joint.

Rickard Cyclone 10:1 Tuners: Rickard's patented tuners have a 10:1 turning ratio and faux tortoise buttons for smooth micro-adjustments and stable tuning.

The walnut rim isn't something you see on Rickard very often, and the purfling band around the rim is normally found on the Cherry Little Wonder.

This banjo is fully set up: inspected, tuned and optimized so it is ready to play the moment it arrives.

Specifications

12 Inch Walnut Dobson Banjo

Neck:

Walnut Neck with Two Way Adjustable Truss Rod Dobson Style Heel

Hand Polished Catalyzed Varnish Satin Finish

25.5” Scale Ebony Fretboard with “S” Curve Frailing Scoop Acrylic Dots with Star inlay and Side Dots

Rickard Cyclone 10:1 Ratio Tuners (Antiqued Brass) with Faux Tortoise Buttons

Gold Fretwire

Railroad Spikes on 7th, 9th, 10th

Body:

1/2 inch Thick Walnut Rim with Rim Cap and Purfling Band

All hardware to be antiqued brass including Dobson Tone Ring, 18 Notch Tension Hoop, Rickard Bullseye Style Bracket Shoes, Hooks, Belly-style Nuts, Dowel Stick Hardware and Ferrule

No Knot Tailpiece

Remo Renaissance

String Height set to 3/32” At 12th Fret (Low Action)

5/8” Maple Bridge

Serial: 1893