Beautiful 1921 top of the range Orpheum NO.3 17 fret open back tenor banjo, serial # 13864. This would have been the last run of banjos made by Rettburg & Lange in Aug 1921 before William Lange of Paramount banjos took over the company and continued the serial numbers from 14500 onwards in Sept 1921.

A Little bit of history

Orpheum banjos were made by William Rettburg and William Lange, two music industry veterans who purchased the bankrupt Buckbee banjo company in 1897. In its day, Buckbee was the largest banjo maker in America, a firm that made instruments for Dobson, Benary, Farland, Bruno and perhaps a dozen more companies. The banjos made by Buckbee were primarily in what we think of as the minstrel style, with thin wooden shells, no metal tone rings and large, usually fretless necks. Rettburg and Lange had figured out early on that the instruments that Buckbee was making were quickly going out of fashion. By 1903 they had developed a simple tone ring that helped increase the banjo’s volume along with giving it brighter crisper tone. The Orpheum banjo proved to be a big success and by 1915, it was one of the most popular banjos styles in America.

Orpheum banjos came in a variety of styles including five-strings, banjo mandolins, plectrums and tenors, like today’s Catch. Orpheum banjos were very well made and they have a lighter, delicate tone than the instruments from Gibson and Epiphone that come out a few years later. The #3 Special was the fanciest model in the catalog although a couple of more ornate models were available by special order.

Banjo details

This model boasts exquisite pearl inlay, heel carvings and wooden marquetry. The neck and shell are made of maple with a beautiful ornate headstock showing the name Orpheum NO.3 Special. The original friction peg tuners have been upgraded with quality Planet geared tuners with pearloid buttons. The back of the headstock has beautful mother of pearl inlay and a backstrap neck featuring 9 layers of wood laminates, which adds to the strength of the neck. The neck is perfectly straight with good frets and low action. The position markers MOP are absolutely beautiful as is the heel carving.

The pot assembly is the larger 12 inch size with a brass hoop tone ring giving this open back banjo great volume and clarity. Fitted with new frosted Remo head measuring 12 – 2/8 inch, Waverly tailpiece and flat bar arm rest plus new phospher bronze strings, maple/ebony 5/8 bridge. A perfect banjo for someone who plays fiddle or someone looking an easier stretch to high B!

I don’t believe you’d get a luthier today who would make such a handcrafted banjo without charging a fortune! Comes with a new short scale hardshell case with outer brown leatherette and red fur lining.