WS15-27

Fairbanks                     Custom Electric                             5 String

 

S/N: 763      1890                                11 ½ x 27 ½ “                        5 3/8 lb.

 

Originality is excellent. Three of the 32 hooks are not engraved and thus are replacements. Several of the board inlays were replaced.

 

Condition: Excellent.

 

Background: Presumably throughout the Fairbanks era, customers could request banjos made to suit their specific wishes. The most elaborate of those are called Presentation Grade. Somewhat less elaborate instruments made for personal requests are referred to as Custom Grade. Even sub-Electric instrument models could possibly have been ordered but the vast majority were Electrics. Probably there are no 2 exactly alike as they were made to "scratch the itch" of the individual purchaser. For obvious reasons, people willing to pay extra for these banjos usually requested very desirable features. Among other things these could have included special carvings, engraved pots and/or cobra hooks, unusual inlays, different neck woods or veneers, preferred scale length and rim diameter, etc. With the costs and craftsmanship of that era, oh how I wish my grandfather had ordered a dozen or so and just let his imagination run wild ! Survivors are quite rare, all are fascinating, and nearly all are "in benevolent bondage to Bollman in Boston."

 

About this instrument:

1) Ex-Bollman Collection.

2) Delicately engraved full spun pot.

3) Engraved Cobra hooks.

4) Unique heel carving that consists of 2 parts. The 3/4 “ wide band adjacent to the heel cap portrays a vine with leaves. The rest of the heel has a leafy design that extends 5 1/4 “ up the neck.

5) The back strap is inlaid with a 3 piece scroll design.

6) A wide veneer under the fingerboard and the heel cap.

7) Inlays from fret 3 to the end of the board are custom shaped and lovely.

8) Fancy carved ivory tuners and tailpiece.

9) A very early Electric, perhaps made the inaugural year.

 

Click to enlarge: