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1925 Paramount Style C Tenor Banjo

1925 Paramount Style C 19 fret tenor banjo made by the Rettburg and Lange Company New York. This banjo bears the serial #5523 which dates it to late 1925 and is all original.

About the Banjo

The woods used in the instruments do make a difference in sound. Maple tends to be brighter, Mahogany mellower, walnut in the middle. The higher grade banjos have more expensive (and prettier) wood in them such as rosewood, holly, and ebony.  Other banjo makers did the same thing with their banjos, the fancier they are, the rarer the wood and the more carving, marquetry, etc. on the banjos.

The Style C has a natural dark mahogany finish, laminated maple/mahogany rim, laminated mahogany resonator, laminated mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard. The Style C banjo is one of Paramount’s most attractive designs, richly decorated with elaborate wood marquetry and very fancy engraved pearl inlay. The overall look is dark finished mahogany with chain pattern wood edging, wood and celluloid binding, and coloured wood inlay. The mahogany neck is of multi laminate construction with carved heel, carved peg head back and multilayered wood binding with a chain marquetry inlay up the sides. The headstock is decorated with an extremely fancy engraved pearl inlay and the fingerboard has shaped and engraved pearl in a flying bird motif. Hardware includes the Paramount swivel/tilt adjustable tailpiece and the hotdog style arm rest. Selling originally for $185, the Style C was a relatively affordable but still upscale professional grade tenor Banjo.

I have given this beauty the usual pure banjo once over and highly hand polished throughout. The neck is straight and has just had a complete refret with the slightly wider fret wire. I have upgraded the original Jos Rogers goat skin head for a brighter more powerful 11 2/16″ Weather King renaissance head. The tuners are the pancake Grover type which all work fine and hold tuning well. Which takes me to the detail & condition under the bonnet! The nickel plating throughout this instrument is in first class condition including the tone ring, so worth while showing of if you would prefer a clear head installed (extra). Comes with original vintage Paramount tenor banjo case with turquoise blue lining complete with inner zipper velvet dust cover.

Quick summary

  • Grover pancake tuners
  • Flatbar nickel plated armrest
  • Paramount swivel/tilt tail piece
  • Nice Carving to heal & back of neck head stock
  • Multi piece mahogany neck featuring holly & died pear wood
  • Original Paramount banjo case (with double inner pockets and zipper dust cover)

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