OLD BANJO HELP!!

Hi there folks. As you can guess im a telecaster guy but a family member was in czech republic and he brought me a european banjo he found at an antique shop. It its really really interesting. What i have found about it its that it was made in east gearmany between 1920--1975ish (very big gap but i dont know much about banjos so thats why im asking) and it is a 4 string tenor banjo with 17 frets and it looks very old to me. It is very interesting i hope someone here knows something about it (year would be great) or can at least tell me who can help me get more info on it:).
I have faith in my fellow tele members! Hahaha thanks!

I'm no help. But nice Banjo!

www.banjohangout.org

Those folks will know if anyone does.

It kind of looks more like a Turkish Cumbus. Although.....as you mentioned, it was made in Germany. A cumbus is usually made of metal too. Odd....but really neat.

coooowell!!

www.banjohangout.org

Those folks will know if anyone does.

You may also want to try www.mudcat.org

There are lots of folks there from your part of the world and everywhere else, and lots of musician and collector types. Good luck.

I've seen banjo-mandolins built in exactly the same style. Looks really great.

Sorry no idea of its background.

Thanks to all for replying. I tried banjohangout and seems like no luck there. Will try the other site. Seems like its a preaty rare piece. Thanks

I'm not sure what it is. It looks like a banjo, but it very well could be something more exotic that's native to Europe. It looks like it could be 50's, perhaps. Google the manufacterer. That should tell you something.

The banjo is an African instrument that's often thought of as being wholly American. It's not.

I hate to tell ya, but it's not a "truly old" banjo simply by looking a the tuners.... I do quite a lot of work refurb-ing old Banjo's for my dad (he collects 4 String Tenors, Tenor Guitars ans Banjo-mandolins) and the really old ones use friction peg headed tuners. Now by really old" I'm talking about Banjo's from the mid 1800's (like his prize Orpheum prototype and an old-ball [for him] 5-string built by, we believe William Boucher for Joel Sweeny himself) and what not. So it's certainly a neat piece, but it's not nearly as old as a banjo can be. What does the headstock say??? I can't make it out with the bad light and the grainy upside down picture. That'd be the best way to get started finding out about the instrument. I gaurentee there is some kind of info on Google about it. The historical banjo comunity is pretty small in the grander scheme of things and someone will know something about it. Hope you can find some info mate, now go play the thing aye ;)

Cheers

Dave

I hate to tell ya, but it's not a "truly old" banjo simply by looking a the tuners.... I do quite a lot of work refurb-ing old Banjo's for my dad (he collects 4 String Tenors, Tenor Guitars ans Banjo-mandolins) and the really old ones use friction peg headed tuners. Now by really old" I'm talking about Banjo's from the mid 1800's (like his prize Orpheum prototype and an old-ball [for him] 5-string built by, we believe William Boucher for Joel Sweeny himself) and what not. So it's certainly a neat piece, but it's not nearly as old as a banjo can be. What does the headstock say??? I can't make it out with the bad light and the grainy upside down picture. That'd be the best way to get started finding out about the instrument. I gaurentee there is some kind of info on Google about it. The historical banjo comunity is pretty small in the grander scheme of things and someone will know something about it. Hope you can find some info mate, now go play the thing aye ;)

Cheers

Dave

Well thanks for your time, yea sorry for the crapy pick haha. It says marma on the headstock and what i have found on it is that it was founded in 1920 in germany and after the war only the east german factory survived and it looks like for some unknown reason it closed arownd 1970s. Thats prity much what i have found. Thanks man

Cool, I'll start to do some looking and see if I can find you anything... Banjo's are really not my thing but my dad grew up in the Kingston Trio era and loves to play them/hear them/own them so I do a lot of resto work on random strays he brings home. I gotta say though I've been pickin on them more and more and there are some really fun sounds to be had aye. Plus if you're like me, having instruments hanging on the walls is just a version f "home decor" that I find appealing :wink:

So anyway, I'll start digging into my sources and see what I can come up with for ya. In this day and age of instant info finding, when you don't find anything it can get really REALLY frustrating aye. The internet has made me a much less patient person HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I hope I can help ya.

Cheers

Dave

I know an old banjo "guru" that MAY be able to help you. I don't know your location but his music store is located in St. Albans West Virginia U.S.A. The store is called "Fret'N'Fiddle", the phone number is 304-722-5212 They are open weekdays from around 9am to 5pm Eastern Time. Ask for Joe Dobbs.