Paramount Leader Tenor Banjo (1929)
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Paramount Leader Model Tenor Banjo (1929), made in N.Y. City, serial # 11582, natural lacquer finish, rosewood rim, neck and resonator, black hard shell case.
This is a good player's example of the all-rosewood Leader, one of William Lange's classic 1920's Paramount models. While not as fancy as some of Paramount's other high end banjos (although fancy enough!) the Leader embodied Lange's theory that rosewood was the "finest material for tone" and sold originally for $200, quite a sizeable price in the 1920's.
The headstock and fingerboard carry very intricate engraved pearl inlays and multiple contrasting wood bindings adorn the entire instrument; at Paramount's inlay work was extremely fine. The Leader was a popular model in the 1920's, but all Paramount banjos were a favorite of professional Jazz musicians in the 1920's and are frequently seen in period photographs, especially of African-American Jazz Orchestras. This one has been played a lot; it has a sticker on the case lid from the "Happy Days String Band" and a collection of picks and strings in the case from those happy days.
Overall length is 33 3/4 in. (85.7 cm.), 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm.) diameter head, and 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22 7/8 in. (581 mm.).
This banjo is in fairly well worn but good playing condition, with some noticeable wear. All hardware is original except the tuners, which are later small-can Page tuners fitted without any additional widening of the holes on the headstock face. There is no armrest fitted but the original tailpiece is intact. The banjo is set up with a plastic head and newer bridge.
The thin original varnish finish is fairly well worn off the back of the neck, and the back of the resonator has significant scratching through the finish. The originally very narrow Paramount frets have been replaced with noticeably larger fret wire and the fingerboard has been trued with some minor loss to the engraving on the inlay. The banjo looks lovely and plays well with the expected powerful sound in spades. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a good player's example of the all-rosewood Leader, one of William Lange's classic 1920's Paramount models. While not as fancy as some of Paramount's other high end banjos (although fancy enough!) the Leader embodied Lange's theory that rosewood was the "finest material for tone" and sold originally for $200, quite a sizeable price in the 1920's.
The headstock and fingerboard carry very intricate engraved pearl inlays and multiple contrasting wood bindings adorn the entire instrument; at Paramount's inlay work was extremely fine. The Leader was a popular model in the 1920's, but all Paramount banjos were a favorite of professional Jazz musicians in the 1920's and are frequently seen in period photographs, especially of African-American Jazz Orchestras. This one has been played a lot; it has a sticker on the case lid from the "Happy Days String Band" and a collection of picks and strings in the case from those happy days.
Overall length is 33 3/4 in. (85.7 cm.), 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm.) diameter head, and 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22 7/8 in. (581 mm.).
This banjo is in fairly well worn but good playing condition, with some noticeable wear. All hardware is original except the tuners, which are later small-can Page tuners fitted without any additional widening of the holes on the headstock face. There is no armrest fitted but the original tailpiece is intact. The banjo is set up with a plastic head and newer bridge.
The thin original varnish finish is fairly well worn off the back of the neck, and the back of the resonator has significant scratching through the finish. The originally very narrow Paramount frets have been replaced with noticeably larger fret wire and the fingerboard has been trued with some minor loss to the engraving on the inlay. The banjo looks lovely and plays well with the expected powerful sound in spades. Overall Very Good + Condition.