Orpheum No. 1 Tenor Banjo – Used

Woo Hoo! 12 3/16 inch head gives this Irish tenor a great gutsy tone. The shell has its Rettberg & Lange plaque, and the stamped patent number, but as usual no serial number. Serial number on dowel stick is 11215, everything fits as intended so there’s no reason to think the neck and shell didn’t leave the Orpheum factory together circa 1919/1920. Nice set of original hooks and nuts, all shoes and the rim bolts holding them appear to match. All the tone ring “stilts” or risers appear to be in place and solid.

String scale is 21 inches. neck is quite straight and fret wear, even to lower frets, is light.

New Stew-Mac 4-to1 Planet tuners. Newer tailpiece, obviously the head has been replaced, all other hardware appears to be original.