Orpheum Short Scale Tenor Banjo

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Made around 1925 by the Rettburg & Lange Company who built the famous Paramount banjos the build is all quality, nice heavy-duty hard maple rim with fancy veneers as well as a good maple “rim cap” on the bottom. Birdseye-maple 5-piece neck with bound centre maple strip sandwiched between 2 strips of ebony for strength.  21″ short scale fretboard (17 frets), and detailed multi-layer headstock veneer, the inlay positions are fanciful symmetrical decorations made up of flourishes of flora. It has a nut width of 1 1/8th”, a fingerboard width at 7th fret of 1 5/16″ and at the last fret the fingerboard measures 1 1/2″.  The machine head tuners are upgraded geared tuners, nickel plated with solid ebony buttons. The instrument is loaded with the Orpheum-style archtop tonering which is seated on flattened stud appendages that then connect to the outer sleeve where the edge of the head is mounted. This whole contraption is half of what gives the Orpheum’s their magical sound — a projecting, bright but warm tonality with overtones and sustain that compliments rather than detracts from the overall sound. All of the original hooks and ball end nuts are rust free, also fitted with a vintage Waverly ‘top-slide’ tail piece to give extra leverage to the bridge thus improving the overall sound. This little banjo is a dream to play with low action and well suited for a fiddler or mandolin player wishing to move onto a new instrument. The banjo comes with its original little case in great condition, also if preferred I supply new sturdy short scale banjo cases. The banjo can be played as an open back, or with the attached lathe turned flat style resonator which was original to a Windsor banjo but fits this little banjo perfectly. For Sale £875