How much should I expect to spend on banjo?

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Claude Jeter
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 07:16 PM

$4,126.77, plus tax, title, and insurance.

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 06:02 PM

Thank you Rick...(can't help but wonder what Mick might say if he sees that response....LOL :-) )

Mary

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 03:48 PM

What size shoes do you wear Rick?

catspaw

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 03:04 PM

"Oh Mary this Mudcat's a wonderful site,
For people make fun of you day and by night.
They don't plant potatoes, nor barley nor hay,
But they'll dump on you sure, if a banjo you'll play.

At least when you ask them the cost of a 'jo
Be it Gibson, or Vega, or old Epiphone.
There's Harmonys, Deerings and Stellings galore,
And if you played for me, I'd shout "More, Mary, More!

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 01:31 PM

Not to mention repairs to the instrument of the damage done when using it to smash accordions. --seed

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 10:28 AM

So I'll say it . . . Then there's the cost of having some of your front teeth removed, the cost of a lobotomy, therapy, counselling, not to mention all those peripheral devices you will need, like banjo belts, pins for your hat, moon bridges, special picks, spouse deflectors, and a possum grill.

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From:
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 05:23 AM

You might also look in on Elderly, http://www.elderly.com/welcome.htm. They have a "vintage" instrument section, and you might, just by chance, find one there. If so it would be a good indication of the going price.

Murray

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Bert
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 08:59 AM

OK, OK, I'll say it....

You don't actually BUY those things do you????

Bert.

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Songbob
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 01:50 AM

Well, was I ever high in my estimates! Just looked over the last sold banjos on eBay, and a 1920s TB-3 only brough $850! I AM surprised. And think maybe the eBay prices are a little under what collectors would pay. Who knows?

Try sending a note to Mike Holmes at mugwumps.com (look for his website) and ask him.

I couldn't open any eBay items themselves, unfortunately, so I don't know the conditions of those being sold. You might also try vintage guitar magazine's web page (again, I don't have the URL -- I changed PCs recently, and the old one has all my "favorites." Owing to the non-running of that machine (the reason I replaced it) I haven't gotten to my data yet.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 01:47 AM

Thanks for the info Bob.

There are no fancy inlays, just "dots"...I haven't seen the banjo in person...will see about a model name.

Mary

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Songbob
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 01:42 AM

Well, that era Gibsons are pretty collectable, even the plain models (the Mastertones were the better ones, but the simple-tonering and no-tonering models are vintage, too). You haven't said what model this is. If it has a tonering (that metal rim UNDER the head, that the stretcher-band is pulled down onto by the brackets) then it's more valuable than if not. If that tonering is round and has 1/4" holes in it, it's worth its weight in gold, 'cause that's the Mastertone tone ring. If there's fancy inlay on the fingerboard, it's desirable.

I don't know today's market, but a guess would be:

Mastertone model (TB-3?) with nice inlay -- from under but near $1000 to $3000 or even higher. Simpler models (TB-1 or -2?) with plain dots -- around $300 to $1000, maybe a touch more.

I'd check and see if any have sold on eBay auction recently. The prices on eBay are sometimes high, since it's an auction and people get "caught up" in it, but it's also a good "leveler," unlike vintage instrument dealers, where you have no comparison shopping possible.

If I can find out more, I'll let you know.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 01:40 AM

Thanks catspaw! I was stumped for a thread name...that's sometimes the toughest part.

Mary

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 12:50 AM

If you get one serious response in three on this topic, it'll be a miracle. You've asked a good question and I'll try to help, but the thread name lends itself to less than serious thoughts! I'll be checking in later.

catspaw

Subject: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 12:27 AM

I've been trying to research some prices for a 1920's "The Gibson" brand 17 (18) fret tenor banjo...all original, wooden neck (very straight), resonator, not been played much, minor normal use sratches on back. Has modern hard case.

I have been searching various banjo Dealers on the net but haven't come across any comparable "The Gibson"'s...not even close...

Anyone (esp in the US) have an/any idea as to what a banjo like this would be priced?

You can email me at [e-mail] or via the mudcat personal messages...

Thanks bunches!

Mary