1929 MELODY KING Tenor Banjo Fair, Original Hard, $395.00
Since I am almost totally ignorant of banjos, when I took this one in trade for a guitar I was forced to surf the net. I actually found almost identical banjos described—including one which recently sold on eBay—and overall gleaned the following opinions:
"Banjo is by Stromberg Voisinet, Chicago, Illinois, who later became Kay. Looks like it’s one from the pre-30s era; that is the older style flange, which is pot metal and sometimes degrades. Considered intermediate level banjos with low collectability, but even so yours is close to the top of that line. It appears to be correct with its parts from what I see [aside from the broken flange]." The only question: Pre 1931 (S-V) or post 1930 (Kay)? I vote for 1929-30 S-V because of the flange. Some say that Melody King was a Slingerland product, but this banjo screams Stromberg-Voisonet. Scale length is 22.75", 19 frets.
“The Slingerland banjos also had a crown motif on the headstock, but they usually said "Melody King by Slingerland" or some such. In the absence of other markings, I'd say you have a very fancy Stromberg-Voisinet banjo, probably 1920-30's. Elaborate inlay, carved heel, all the hallmarks of a top-of-the-line tenor, where "bling was king" (Melody King, in this case).”
“Visually, your Melody King really knocks the sox off, so I'd possibly double what the "regular" Slingerlands are going for. I honestly lean more towards the Stromberg-Voisinet, just judging by the resonator/pot/flange design and styling nods, but that fretboard and neck build is quite fancy and S-Vs tend to have a sort of crude approach to their detailing from the time even on high end stuff.”
“I'd like to see inside the pot as well. I'm leaning towards Stromberg Voisinet also. I've seen a few S-V's with that same head. Your banjo could be way more rare than a 30's Mastertone. …I'm almost sure that's a Stromberg Voisinet resonator flange.”
Identical banjo recently sold on eBay [item number: 332222511304]:
“Really nice vintage tenor banjo. Not only is this an amazing instrument, it's a piece of art and history. It has 19 frets, a nice straight neck, 34 inches in total length and has an 11-inch head diameter. Beautiful tree of life up the fretboard. Amazing inlays and engravings around the banjo. All original except a brand new head, bridge and tailpiece. Recently been adjusted and is in perfect playing condition as well as sounding wonderful. Scratches and a few flaws, but nothing unexpected. Excellent condition for being almost 100 years old.
Price: US $749.99”
Now: obviously this banjo is not in “wonderful” playing condition. Even we non-banjo folks can see that the base metal flange has cracked and broken in a number of places—a common occurrence on vintage banjos, I’m told. The good news is that flanges of the right size are apparently available at Stewart-MacDonald at a reasonable price, the replacement is a relatively easy process, and as far as I can tell, all of the other original parts are on the banjo or in the case pocket.
So: here’s your chance to own an outstanding vintage tenor banjo—almost 100 years old!—fix it yourself in an afternoon, and be playing at the pickin’ parlor that night. Is that cool, or what?
The original hard shell case is a bit bedraggled as one might expect, but it’s structurally sound, the hardware works, and it provides excellent and authentic protection to what will soon be a really cool instrument.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; payment must clear before the instrument will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this cool banjo and case with scrupulous accuracy. Please read the description carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.
Thank you for your interest in this beautiful vintage instrument.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.