Vintage 1924 Washburn Style C Banjo Long Neck Conversion

We are pleased to offer up a "Partscaster" banjo made from a 1923 Style C Washburn banjo rim coupled with a beautifully handmade 30 inch long neck meant for open E tuning ala Pete Seager.

The body is a style C Washburn which was made from 1923 to 1925. The serial number is 1145, which dates it to around 1924. The specifications for the style C include a 6 ply Maple shell with the patented "donut" tone ring, 22 brackets, and the original Kushner Unique tail piece. The broad u-shaped tone ring, in the company literature was designated as the "air cushion resonator", but nowadays usually referred to as the donut tone ring.

All the metal parts are slightly faded, but still shiny. The wood is unblemished with no major dings or scratches or any flaws.

The remarkably nice neck on this banjo is said to have been made by Mario Martello, a legendary bay area repair man and builder known for his elegant work. The finish on the neck matches the vintage patina of the body exactly. If you didn't know any better, you might think that this neck and body were made at the same time. The dimensions are similar to the popular Vega or Gibson long neck banjos made during the folk craze, but the materials and craftsmanship harken back to the Golden Era of banjos at the turn of the 20th century. The figured maple on the neck has worn in perfectly. There is three ply ebony Maple ebony bindings along the side and I avoid binding on the fingerboard. The ebony fretboard has tasteful diamond shaped snowflake inlays that are complimented by a similar pattern on the headstock. The only clue that this neck is more modern than the body is the vintage patent pending Grover Rotomatic tuners made in the late 50s and are original to this instrument.