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Vintage May-Bell 4-String Tenor Banjo With Resonator - $200 (Amherst, NH)
29 Holly Hill Drive
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It has four strings on it, but these are probably not the original
strings, and may have been put on by my dad in the 1990's.
It has an open back but a resonator is mounted to the back, giving it
more volume. The body is about 11 inches in diameter. The head (or
sounding element) is not original. The head is labeled Remco Weather
King and is plastic. The head is retained by a band and many metal
clamps around the edge of the banjo body. Unfortunately, the head
material has come out of the retainer band in one area.
The neck is a dark wood that seems to be walnut or mahogany. There are
mother of pearl position dots inlaid in the fretboard. The resonator
is a circular mahogany piece attached to the back of the body. It has
a design inlaid on the back made of colored wood veneer. There is a
metal ring around the front of the regulator which seems to be chrome
plated and an arm rest on the left side of the head.
The frets and neck look in reasonable condition, but I do not know
how to play a banjo, so I can't say if it actually sounds right. It
has not been played for at least 15 years.
This instrument has a case, but it is not original. It is gray
cardboard, and is slightly too large. My dad lined it with plastic
foam to make a better fit.