Fairbanks 5 String Banjo (1890)
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Fairbanks 5 String Banjo (1890), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 51, natural varnish finish, spunover rim, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard.
This is an interesting, attractive and EXTREMELY early Fairbanks banjo, made just after the split of Fairbanks & Cole into two separate companies. Each of the former partners went on to greater glory as banjo makers, but by the turn of the (19-20th) century the Fairbanks company was arguably building the finest, most advanced banjos in the world.
This instrument is an older design, bearing serial number 51 on the top of the dowel marking it as one of the first banjos ever issued under the new name. It is a well made if typical old-time Boston banjo built on a 11 1/8" spunover pot with some distinct Fairbanks & Cole touches. The inside and dowel stick are lacquered black and the dowel carries the metal plate marked "The A C Fairbanks Co. Makers, Boston Mass". The hooks and nuts are slim and delicate and the dowel stick has an early version of the Fairbanks metal sheath.
The mahogany neck has a 26" scale, with a plain ebony heel cap and stylish oddly modern looking geometric pearl inlay on the ebony fingerboard and headstock veneer. The tailpiece is a typical period ivoroid unit marked with an 1886 patent date, the tuners friction pegs with ivoroid buttons. This banjo had a fairly bright sound for a 19th century instrument and an attractively archaic tone. While not exactly the style of banjo the Fairbanks name is most remembered for this is a good quality instrument of its time and a fabulous piece of Boston banjo history, a lovely survivor of the first days of the city's greatest builder.
Overall length is 34 1/2 in. (87.6 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 in. (660 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
While built with the older 19th century style metal-and-wood rim, this banjo maintains the quality inherent in all Fairbanks instruments and has survived over 135 years in nicely playable condition. The neck appears to have an old overfinish, with a subsequent wear spot into the wood on the back in the third fret area smoothed over but not overfinished.
The rim hardware appears all original, including a matched set of hooks and nuts and the lovely period tailpiece. The tuners all appear original as well. The neck is attached with an 1890s Fairbanks tension piece we suspect was added later, but appears to have been there for a century or more. The neck been shimmed lightly and the angle is very good, this is a nicely playable banjo with a lovely if old-fashioned sound, set up wit an Elite plastic head and more modern bridge. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is an interesting, attractive and EXTREMELY early Fairbanks banjo, made just after the split of Fairbanks & Cole into two separate companies. Each of the former partners went on to greater glory as banjo makers, but by the turn of the (19-20th) century the Fairbanks company was arguably building the finest, most advanced banjos in the world.
This instrument is an older design, bearing serial number 51 on the top of the dowel marking it as one of the first banjos ever issued under the new name. It is a well made if typical old-time Boston banjo built on a 11 1/8" spunover pot with some distinct Fairbanks & Cole touches. The inside and dowel stick are lacquered black and the dowel carries the metal plate marked "The A C Fairbanks Co. Makers, Boston Mass". The hooks and nuts are slim and delicate and the dowel stick has an early version of the Fairbanks metal sheath.
The mahogany neck has a 26" scale, with a plain ebony heel cap and stylish oddly modern looking geometric pearl inlay on the ebony fingerboard and headstock veneer. The tailpiece is a typical period ivoroid unit marked with an 1886 patent date, the tuners friction pegs with ivoroid buttons. This banjo had a fairly bright sound for a 19th century instrument and an attractively archaic tone. While not exactly the style of banjo the Fairbanks name is most remembered for this is a good quality instrument of its time and a fabulous piece of Boston banjo history, a lovely survivor of the first days of the city's greatest builder.
Overall length is 34 1/2 in. (87.6 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 in. (660 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
While built with the older 19th century style metal-and-wood rim, this banjo maintains the quality inherent in all Fairbanks instruments and has survived over 135 years in nicely playable condition. The neck appears to have an old overfinish, with a subsequent wear spot into the wood on the back in the third fret area smoothed over but not overfinished.
The rim hardware appears all original, including a matched set of hooks and nuts and the lovely period tailpiece. The tuners all appear original as well. The neck is attached with an 1890s Fairbanks tension piece we suspect was added later, but appears to have been there for a century or more. The neck been shimmed lightly and the angle is very good, this is a nicely playable banjo with a lovely if old-fashioned sound, set up wit an Elite plastic head and more modern bridge. Overall Excellent - Condition.