Wunder Banjo Company's 18th and 19th Century Style Banjos and Accessories

Offering
18th and 19th Century Style Banjos and Accessories

NOTE: As of 3/7/2006 we are not taking any new orders so we can catch up on our orders.

Sweeney Style Tack Head

The original for this reproduction comes from the Samura Collection in Japan. It dates from the early 1840's. Little else is know except its reputed link to Joel Sweeney. The simple neck design and tackhead hoop indicate the earliest style of post-gourd construction.

inlay is ivory and ebony.

hoop is a 13" diameter.

nut and ivory.

ebonized hardwood pegs.

$850

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1846 William Boucher Style

William E. Boucher Jr. Of Baltimore, MD was one of the most prolific banjo makers of the mid-19th century. His unique design became the icon of the American banjo in the decades before the American Civil War. Wunder Banjo’s reproductions include all of Boucher’s unique construction methods:

3 piece neck design
ebonized hardwood pegs
in the modified Hill style pegs
faux grain finish
single ply oak rims
painted mild steel hooks and tension rings
hand cut pegs from the original pattern
correct period varnish
12-12 1/2" single ply oak rim
6-8 hooks
ivory or rosewood nut
gut strings

Wunder Banjo makes the most accurate reproductions. We have been chosen by top collectors to reproduce parts and restore original Boucher banjos. Of the currently known 41 Bouchers, we have restored, conserved or documented 36 of these. Our presentation grade model uses hand selected birds-eye maple for the neck and birds-eye maple veneer over the oak rim per the original examples. The all steel hooks and tension ring are painted red as are most of the originals. As there is some evidence of “blued” hardware, we offer this option at an additional cost.

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Rice Banjo

Named for the modern collector who owns the original of this important banjo - the Rice Banjo illustrates the ingenuity of early builders in the Boucher era (1840's-1850's). This banjo sows simple elegance that applies to many banjos from central Virginia. The walnut neck sports several scribed pinwheels which appear to have been original to the banjo. The hoop has only 4 hooks and uses hardware similar to Boucher’s. It is both glued and nailed at the hoop joint. We use historic lathe nails per the original instrument. The hoop is left with a light color, as the original, giving it a unique appearance. The nut is hardwood (ivory may be substituted).

$975

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Construction

Hunchback Banjo

This banjo is based on an original photograph of an African-American slave’s banjo taken on the USS Hunchback. Its asymmetrical peg layout is common in the decades before the American Civil War and is a much under represented feature of today’s reproductions. The pinched waist of the neck marks the 12^th position (another common feature of the period). The short scale length makes this banjo very playable while maintaining a high quality sound.

Neck - cherry or walnut

12" oak hoop

gut strings

nut - hardwood or ivory

handmade pegs

6 or 8 pegs

$975

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Construction

Jacob's Banjo

D. Jacobs of New York is one of the earliest known makers. This model dates from the 1850's and is a forerunner of the designs used by mass-producers. The long scale length of this neck gives a booming sound (useful for recording purposes). Since this style of banjo can be seen in photographs of professional minstrels, its simplicity should not detract from its use as a stage instrument. It can be easily customized to very closely resemble instruments played by Charlie Fox and others.

12" oak hoop

Neck - cherry or maple

8 hooks

ivory nut

gut strings

handmade pegs

For customizing, please call George.

$1,100

Custom Banjos start at $1,600. We will copy banjos from paintings, photographs, drawings, and existing collections - or your own design.

Restoration and repair service is available. All jobs are quoted on a per job basis. Shop time is $75 per hour. All jobs have a minimum one hour shop fee. Normal supplies are included in shop price.

Please call George.

ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES

Inlay and Exotic woods - call or email for price	CALL
Nylon Banjo Strings - $7.50/set
Gut Banjo Strings $28 (High Quality, 5 strings)
Custom Handmade Pegs (set of 5) - start at $75	CALL

Please Note: Shipping and Handling is $20 per Banjo and 10% of price for accessories. (International Extra - Please Call!).

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Ordering Information: Call us at: (301) 739-7343 (after 6 p.m.)
E-mail us at: Banjo@myactv.net

Write us at:

18513 Wagaman Road

Hagerstown, MD 21740

Near Maryland? Call for an appointment to visit our workshop.