1893 J.E. Dallas Banjo Excellent, Original Hard, $1,395.00

From our great friends across The Pond, before the turn of the century (no, not that one; the one before that) comes this beautiful J.E. Dallas five-string banjo, dated by banjo expert nonpareil Leo Coulson of Salt Lake City as being from 1893. In obvious emulation of and showing great admiration for the wonderful SS Stewart banjos from Philadelphia at the time, it is a wee bit more robust in just about every way, a very welcome improvement. In marvelous original condition, with its genuine mahogany neck, wonderfully straight, ebony fingerboard, and perfect metal-clad rim of the day’s favor, you would be hard put to find a nicer, friendlier, more “I’m home!” instrument. Lovely original tailpiece, attached to the stretcher band in a fabulously non-invasive way, would work perfectly with original-type gut strings too for those of you brave enough to go there. Genuine calfskin head appears to be original. Original clever Brit fifth peg, other four American replacements from the early 20th century of the spring-loaded “patent peg” type, I’m sure all you banjo nuts have seen them before, as I have. Most of the bracket hooks are original 5/16”, a few 9/32’ replacements mixed in there, happens all the time. I have just set this wonderful banjo up myself here in our own shop, had a heck of a good time doing it, and I have to say that it’s the very most endearing (no pun intended) older open-back 5-string banjo we’ve seen in decades. Comes with a hard shell case that looks original to me, though one expert who took a look at it swears it’s an early Gibson case. Your call. $1395 w/ohsc