Details
Ronnie Bales has retired from building, but as a luthier who worked alone, he never built many banjos. During his active years, though, an impressive selection of A-list pickers used his instruments, including Bela Fleck, Bill Evans and Noam Pikelny.
This mahogany was built in 2008 and has Bales’s own "Turbo Rim" shell, and his proprietary tone ring. Bales also uses a slightly deeper resonator, which adds some sustain and bottom to the tone. It's in excellent condition but shows slight signs of use as it has been played. There are spikes at the 7th and 9th fret under the 5th string. You can find a ding or two to the finish on the back of the resonator, and a small spot on the neck barrel behind the 9th fret, probably from the neck rest on a stand.
Specs
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Fingerboard
Rosewood
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Neck material
Mahogany
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Nut width
1 3/16"
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Scale length
26 3/8"
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Tuners
Waverly Banjo w/ Ivoroid Buttons
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Year
C. 2008
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Diameter
11"
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Flange
Cast
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Resonator
Yes
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Shell
Bales Turbo Rim
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Tone ring
Bales Tone Ring
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Case type
Original Hardshell
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Serial number
038
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SKU
BALMAH-038
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UPC
120502
