Fairbanks Whyte Laydie #2 5 String Banjo (1908)
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Fairbanks Whyte Laydie #2 Model 5 String Banjo (1908), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 24795, natural varnish finish, laminated maple neck and rim, ebonized fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This banjo is a splendid example of one of the world's standard openback 5-string banjos, the Fairbanks/Vega Whyte Laydie #2. It was built in 1908, not quite 5 years after the Fairbanks company had been bought out by Vega and just before the higher grade Tu-Ba-Phone banjos were introduced. The #2 was not the fanciest grade Whyte Laydie, but was still an elaborate creation, structurally and tonally absolutely one of the finest banjos in the world.
This banjo has a 10 7/8" maple rim and 26" scale laminated maple neck; several options were available. This configuration is the absolutely classic old-time 5-string banjo and produces a sound that few others, new or old, can match. The Fairbanks "Electric" tone ring is fitted over the bracket-band rim, another patented Fairbanks feature. It is a lovely banjo, fairly fancy to look at if not as opulent as some higher end gilded age models.
There is an engraved pearl star on the headstock above the famous "Gryphon" inlay, a trademark often imitated since. This one is particularly boldly engraved and looks fantastic. The bound fingerboard is dyed maple with a single shaped engraved pearl floral inlay by the nut, with a star at the 5th fret and engraved diamonds elsewhere. This model was mostly the brainchild of David Day, chief engineer at Fairbanks and arguably the most important if unsung banjo designer of all time. His innovations have been widely copied for decades, yet few banjo players even know his name.
As with all Fairbanks instruments, everything on this banjo is to the highest quality standards although it was not the top-line piece. By this time this Whyte Laydie was made the company's exceptional 5-strings were the undisputed standard of the world, which they remain today. Often imitated but never really improved upon in the century plus since its creation, the Fairbanks/Vega Whyte Laydie is one of those vintage instruments that instantly justifies its stellar reputation, with a superlative sound remaining one of the finest of "old school" banjos ever made.
Overall length is 35 7/8 in. (91.1 cm.), 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 in. (660 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This banjo remains in very nice condition overall, with some general wear and tear. The lightly ambered natural varnish finish has some light wear overall with some minor flaking on the rim. The back of the neck appears to have an ancient and very light clear overfinish, lightly worn through in a few spots. The headstock face has a heavier clear overfinish (the dyed veneer often cracks and flakes) with some patching to chips around the upper treble side tuner shaft.
The hardware appears all original including the original straight-shaft friction pegs with ivoroid buttons and No-Knot tailpiece. The rim plating still shines bright showing mostly only minor wear, the only notable exception being heavier loss to some of the hooks. The original frets and fingerboard show only very light wear. The banjo is set up with a later Grover compound bridge and a worn looking but lovely sounding old Rogers "Three Star Brand" skin head and makes for a truly excellent sounding and playing old-time banjo, in a modern HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This banjo is a splendid example of one of the world's standard openback 5-string banjos, the Fairbanks/Vega Whyte Laydie #2. It was built in 1908, not quite 5 years after the Fairbanks company had been bought out by Vega and just before the higher grade Tu-Ba-Phone banjos were introduced. The #2 was not the fanciest grade Whyte Laydie, but was still an elaborate creation, structurally and tonally absolutely one of the finest banjos in the world.
This banjo has a 10 7/8" maple rim and 26" scale laminated maple neck; several options were available. This configuration is the absolutely classic old-time 5-string banjo and produces a sound that few others, new or old, can match. The Fairbanks "Electric" tone ring is fitted over the bracket-band rim, another patented Fairbanks feature. It is a lovely banjo, fairly fancy to look at if not as opulent as some higher end gilded age models.
There is an engraved pearl star on the headstock above the famous "Gryphon" inlay, a trademark often imitated since. This one is particularly boldly engraved and looks fantastic. The bound fingerboard is dyed maple with a single shaped engraved pearl floral inlay by the nut, with a star at the 5th fret and engraved diamonds elsewhere. This model was mostly the brainchild of David Day, chief engineer at Fairbanks and arguably the most important if unsung banjo designer of all time. His innovations have been widely copied for decades, yet few banjo players even know his name.
As with all Fairbanks instruments, everything on this banjo is to the highest quality standards although it was not the top-line piece. By this time this Whyte Laydie was made the company's exceptional 5-strings were the undisputed standard of the world, which they remain today. Often imitated but never really improved upon in the century plus since its creation, the Fairbanks/Vega Whyte Laydie is one of those vintage instruments that instantly justifies its stellar reputation, with a superlative sound remaining one of the finest of "old school" banjos ever made.
Overall length is 35 7/8 in. (91.1 cm.), 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 in. (660 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This banjo remains in very nice condition overall, with some general wear and tear. The lightly ambered natural varnish finish has some light wear overall with some minor flaking on the rim. The back of the neck appears to have an ancient and very light clear overfinish, lightly worn through in a few spots. The headstock face has a heavier clear overfinish (the dyed veneer often cracks and flakes) with some patching to chips around the upper treble side tuner shaft.
The hardware appears all original including the original straight-shaft friction pegs with ivoroid buttons and No-Knot tailpiece. The rim plating still shines bright showing mostly only minor wear, the only notable exception being heavier loss to some of the hooks. The original frets and fingerboard show only very light wear. The banjo is set up with a later Grover compound bridge and a worn looking but lovely sounding old Rogers "Three Star Brand" skin head and makes for a truly excellent sounding and playing old-time banjo, in a modern HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.