Circa 1894 S.S. Stewart Special Thoroughbred Presentation 5-String Banjo - Used

$4,250.00

Details

This S. S. Stewart Special Thoroughbred Presentation model has no serial number, so we won't claim our date is exactly correct. However, the fact it has an adjustable neck brace, which appears to be original, suggests it's from the mid-1890s. The S.S.S. peghead logo, and other markings that first appear earlier, may have been left off this example because of the high level of decoration on the inside of the shell. The marquetry on the interior of the rim is especially impressive and shows that Stewart was well aware of Aesthetic Movement design themes (which are also found in the neck carving). Of course we have no idea who this banjo was made for, but it seems likely that viewing its elaborate inlay and carving was more important than playing the instrument as with inlays between every fret how could a player possibly know how to navigate 22 frets? There's a butterfly at the third fret, and another butterfly at the 12-fret octave, but then why would there also be a butterfly at the 6th fret, instead of at the 5th? Maybe we're missing something that explains it but at least you have six butterflies in all, and there's the bird carving on the back of the neck to help guide your left hand.
Gryphon's founders acquired this banjo in the 1980s and it was a star in the "Gryphon Museum Collection" back in the days when we had wall space to spare for displaying things that weren't for sale. Now that Frank Ford is gone it's time for this fine old Stewart to grace someone else's wall, it's very playable and after all, not everyone needs position markers.
It appears to be original throughout, with the exception of the tailpiece which is old but wasn't on this banjo when we first acquired it. There's no sign of any finish touchup, both the frets and the elaborate inlay show no signs of wear. Hooks and nuts show tarnish, the shoes were apparently silver plated (which is why some are almost black). Note the engraving just above the bottom of the spun-over shell. another nice touch Stewart reserved for the highest models. This level of S. S. Stewart banjos were all intended for use with gut strings, we've strung it with Nylgut and with the thin calfskin head it's an excellent example of a turn-of-the (last) century high grade banjo. For what it's worth, steel strings were not used on lower-grade banjos because of how they sounded, but because they were far cheaper than gut strings.
Comes with a TKL hardshell case that's an excellent fit, and in perfect condition despite being over 30 years old because neither banjo or case went anywhere.