WS15-28

Fairbanks                     Custom Electric                               5 String

 

S/N: 17167      1898                            12 x 27 5/8"                             6 lb.

 

Fully original.

 

Condition: Mint.

 

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."

 

Features of this instrument:

1) Ex-Bollman Collection.
2) A truly incredible state of preservation. On very rare occasions vintage banjos surface that look as if they were never played. This looks as if it was custom constructed, placed into a protective case, stored in a climate-controlled room, and inspected about once every generation.
3) Engraved Cobra hooks with square, 4 sided long ball end nuts.
4) Lovely peghead inlay design I have not seen on any standard models. (It is very interesting to compare this peghead inlay pattern with that on my presentation grade Stewart "Enigma" ; no serial number).
5) Board inlays resemble an upgraded No. 3 design.
6) Griffin inlay on the back of the peghead.
7) Under the fingerboard and the heel cap are 3 lovely veneers one of which is a wide piece of walnut.
8) Half spun pot with ivoroid binding and beautiful marquetry on the bottom edge.
9) Heel carving like an Electric No. 3 model.
10) Very elaborate carved ivory tuners and elongated ivory tailpiece.
 

Click to enlarge: