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Gibson “Granada” |
c.1926, fabulous golden brown stained figured maple, early ball bearing vented tonering (holes in side) but with 'Mastertone' pearl block in fbd & rare phd plaque, rosewood fbd with 'hearts & flowers' inlay, 2 pce flange, concentric marquetry bands on resonator, all original hardware has been chrome plated many years ago but retains engraving, except for tuners which remain gold with pearl buttons, a stunning piece in excellent playing order, orig.HC, EC |
£3,850 | |
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Ludwig “Art Model” |
c.1920's, next to top of the line & custom variant, walnut neck & resonator with stunning floral marquetry, profusely engraved gold plated metalwork, all metal integral hoop/flange/tonering, fabulous fbd & phd - the position markers are pearl blocks inlaid with abalone (also heel cap), intermediate frets are all abalone blocks, neck has centre strip & fbd sides inlaid with green abalone banding (which actually goes right through the dowel stick !), pearl button Planet tuners, rare model - usually this would have ebony fbd & carved heel, almost no playwear, orig. deluxe leather covered case, EC. |
£2,750 | |
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VegaVox IV Deluxe |
c.1984, Martin made recreation of 1930's classic, 'Vox' top tension design with 'Tubaphone' tonering set into deep sided resonator, 'ivory' painted lacquer finish with engraved designs picked out in contrasting colours, carved heel, engraved gold plated metalwork (except armrest), top tension bolts capped with rhinestones (1 bolt & 2 rhinestones missing), ebony fbd with engraved mop inlays, 2 band gold Grovers, near mint condition, HSC. |
£2,750 | |
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Clareen 'Elite Gold' |
c.2004, next to top of the line from Tom Cussen's workshop in Galway, a delight in
birdseye maple, engraved gold plating, abalone inlays, fancy hardwood decoration
and his own designed rim, flanges and tonering.
Used by top players on the Celtic music scene, this banjo is in near mint condition with a custom Calton case and now retails at approx. £3,300 without case. A fabulous deal at: |
£2,650 | |
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Vega “Artist” |
c.1931, next to top of the line, stained figured maple, 'Tubaphone' tonering, 4 pce flange, ebony fbd, phd, backstrap & heel cap with typical finely engraved pearl inlays, carved heel, gold pearl button tuners, almost unplayed original condition (no refinishing etc), orig.'mock croc'HC, EC+ |
£2,450 | |
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Gibson TB-250 'Mastertone' |
c.1981, mahogany, ebony fbd with fancy inlays, flathead tonering, 2 pce flange, 'Gibson' clamshell tpce, all original with very little playwear, cracking Mastertone sound for jazz or Irish, 'Gibson' HC, EC. |
ON HOLD | |
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Paramount 'Aristocrat' |
c.1920's, mid-line between C & D, walnut, gold plated, fancy engraved inlays & coloured
purfling, archtop tonering, replaced tuners & some overspray but no damage or repairs,
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£1,450 | |
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Majestic 'De Luxe' |
c.1920's, made by Puntolillo in New York, fabulous Brazilian rosewood neck & 'pie section' resonator, coloured wood banding, fancy marquetry around resonator side walls, nickel plated metalwork, patent tonering and wood rim, ebony fbd with fancy pearl & abalone in phd, Planet tuners with amber buttons, replaced tpce, sounds superb in Irish tuning with great power & tone, some scratches & overspray to resonator otherwise EC, original deluxe, zipper lined HC. |
£1,250 | |
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John Alvey Turner “Custom” |
c 2002, beautiful flamed maple resonator & neck, ebony fbd with engraved block inlays, 22.5” scale, Mastertone style flathead tonering and one-piece flange. Made for JAT by luthier Robert Aylwood, HC, EC |
£1,250 | |
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Vega 'Little Wonder' |
c.1930's, all maple, simple tonering, flamed maple 'pie section' resonator & individual flanges, geared Grovers, nice mid-range TB - owned by esteemed band leader Eric Silk (and his Southern Jazz Band), orig.HC, VG. |
£795 | |
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Stevens |
c.1920's ? a real curiosity - seems to be US made from glowing Hawaiian koa wood, coloured wood banding, 'zither banjo' construction, 17 fret 21" scale, ebony fbd, Vega style engraved mop inlays, new geared tuners, sounds & plays well but never seen or heard of anything like it (info please, banjoheads!), period HC, EC |
£575 | |
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Vega hybrid |
nice combination of Vega Professional neck c.1920's with modern (Stewmac ?) rim, neck has been refinished 'natural' to show beautiful figured maple and matches highly flamed maple resonator, archtop Gibson style tonering, individual shoes & flanges, new geared tuners, great sounding & cool looking banjo for the money, EC, HSC. |
£525 | |
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Greenop Style 2 |
late 1920's, 18 fret, 21" scale, flamed maple neck, ebony fbd, dot inlays, patent friction tuners, bizarre patent 'Tonetube' construction - looks like a zither banjo but has hooks/nuts fitted from below through tube/flange system and inset metal resonator back, sounds somewhere between a banjo and a resophonic Dobro/National, beautifully made (probably by J. E. Dallas) and in fine original condition except for the metalwork which was re-chromed about 10 years ago, agents for these banjos were none other than JAT, HC, EC. |
SOLD | |
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Gremlin |
c.2005, modern Korean made, mahogany, wood rim with bevelled top edge (no metal tonering), full flange & resonator, geared tuners, rosewood fbd with pearloid inlays, nice basic 'jo, EC, HSC. |
£200 |
WE BUY, SELL AND EXCHANGE all fretted instruments - guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, Hawaiians, resophonics - in fact, anything cool, interesting or unusual!
Worldwide courier delivery can be arranged at cost.
Abbreviations
Features
b/s = back and sides : btn = button : inl = inlaid
fbd = fingerboard : pgd = pickguard : phd = peghead : pce = piece
tpce = tailpiece : t’shell = tortoiseshell
mop = mother of pearl : aba = abalone : adj = adjustable
HC = newer hard case : OHC = original hard case
OSC = original soft or semi-hard case : GB = gig bag
Condition
Mint/as new = all original unplayed condition
EC (Excellent Condition) = all original, no repairs/refinish unless noted, some playwear
VGC (Very Good Condition) = basically all original, may have minor repairs/refinish but no other issues unless noted, moderate playwear
GC (Good Condition) = generally sound, possibly some repairs/refinish, may need work as noted, moderate to heavy playwear
PC (Poor Condition) = Issues and work required as noted
Please note that we do not have retail premises at present and that the business operates primarily from Phil Alexander’s home in North London. Phil is happy to meet with customers by appointment and trusts that all concerned will bear with us until such time as our premises situation is resolved.
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Gibson Granada |
c.1988, modern reissue of 1930's classic, beautiful amber stained, flamed maple, neck & resonator, rosewood fbd with 'hearts & flowers' inlay, gold pltd metalwork, flathead 'Mastertone' tonering, 1 pce flange, engraved tension hoop & 'Granada' tpce, 'Keith' tuners on 2nd & 3rd strings, some wear to plating otherwise EC, original Gibson HC |
£2,850 | |
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Gibson RB-250 Mastertone |
c 2004, mahogany, flathead tonering, 1pce flange, fancy inlays, OHC, EC |
£1,650 | |
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Clifford Essex “Concert Grand” |
c.1937, all maple, later model with full flange & resonator, 'Whyte Ladye' style tonering (Clifford Essex were Vega agents & copied this design), engraved mop floral inlays in phd & neck (we have just sold a similar model from 1940 with block inlays), has metal CE label on perch pole but no model or serial no. stamp, this banjo was recently remodelled to give it a 'bluegrass' setup with reset neck, higher bridge, modern geared tuners (including 5th) & tailpiece (the original tuners & tailpiece are included in the sale), plays & sounds great for both bluegrass & 'old timey', VGC, HC. |
£1,350 | |
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The Windsor no.46
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c.1910's, zither banjo, mahogany, ebony fbd, tunnel 5th string, engraved tuners, some refinish but basically all original with nice straight neck and easy action, VGC
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£185 |
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Fairbanks “Whyte Laydie” No 7 |
c.1908, top of the line 'plate' Fairbanks, natural finish figured maple, finely engraved pearl fbd and heelcap inlays with 'fern' in phd front and 'gryphon' on back , superbly carved 'acanthus leaves' heel, coloured marquetry rim cap, closed end ball nuts & 'cobra' hooks, all original and never been messed with, comes with original 'Bull Brand' leather case (needs work) and 1920's Vega 'bump' case (as pic), EC
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£6,750 | |
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Vega 'Vegaphone' 5 string conversion
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original late '20s pot with 'Tubaphone' tonering and all original hardware (including engraved tailpiece), beautifully crafted new neck by Leonard Coulson of Intermountain Music USA, mahogany with centre ebony laminate, bound ebony fbd with dots & star inlay at 5th fret, new geared 5th string tuner, ebony phd overlay with star & original Grover geared tuners, original dowel stick (Vega stamps etc), superb old timey frailer with that characteristic Tubaphone sound, new deluxe Deering HC, EC. |
£1,650 | |
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S. S. Stewart 'Orchestra' model |
c.1880's, fretless, 12" spunover rim, approx.27" scale length, mahogany neck, ebony fbd & phd with fancy pearl inlays, carved ivory tpce, original celluloid 'Maltese Cross' friction tuners, a rare & beautiful early banjo, ideal for minstrel or 19th century pieces, currently strung with Nylgut & sounding great, EC, semi hard case |
£1,250 | |
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Matthews |
c.1890's, early high grade model, spunover rim with sumptuous floral engraving, mahogany neck, carved heel, engraved heel cap, carved pegs (except replaced 5th string tuner), ebony fbd, fancy pearl inlays, HC, EC |
£875 | |
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Lyon & Healey 'Mystic' fretless piccolo |
c.1890's, 8" spunover rim, approx.17 3/8" scale, overall length 24 1/2", mahogany neck, flush fret markers in ebony fbd, fancy mop inlays, original celluloid 'maltese cross' friction tuners, engraved 'patent' tpce, rare & delightful piece that plays & sounds as good as it looks, orig.end opening semi-hard case (in need of attention) EC. |
SOLD | |
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Daniels ‘Patent’ |
c.1890’s, all metal top tension hoop & resonator combined, mahogany neck, ‘tunnel’ 5th string, fancy shaped phd with 5 tuners, bizarre! VGC |
£350 |
Photos awaited |
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Essex & Cammeyer
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c.1900, 11" spunover rim, mahogany neck, ebony fbd with star & dot inlays, friction pegs, nice little player with all original fittings, old custom HC, VGC. |
£350 |
All these instruments are set up with steel strings unless otherwise noted.
Originally, however, these banjos were usually strung with gut and we are happy to
set up the instrument of your choice in the 'classical' style with the modern nylon
string equivalent and a slightly higher action to suit.
Please let us know your requirements.
See also our selection of Tenor Guitars