Slingerland May Bell Tenor Banjo 1930s - Orphan Instruments

This is a Slingerland May Bell Tenor Banjo Model 220. It dates to the late 20s or 30s and is in excellent condition. It is all original. Tuners, skin head (in good condition), bridge, tailpiece, resonator, and case, are all original to the instrument. This banjo has 17 frets and a three piece neck. The resonator has some lacquer checking but is otherwise in excellent condition. Slingerland started out as a banjo company in 1924 then switched to drums when the banjo craze faded.

This banjo comes with the original trap door canvas case which needs new straps and handle. It has nice pearl inlay on the headstock, a rich mahogany finish, nickel plated hardware, and almost no fretwear on a dyed fruitwood fingerboard in good condition. The action is excellent at a comfortable 3/32 on the 12th fret lowest string and 2/32 at the 12th fret highest string. The fretboard is 1 3/16th" at the nut. The neck on this banjo has NOT been shimmed.

I'm partial to the tone a skinhead banjo makes over a nylon or plastic head banjo. and this one is a classic; loud, full and bright, but not shrill. This would have been a mid level instrument when it was new. It's still a solid player's instrument that could sit in your living room or on the stage with you at a club. If you ever thought about exploring tenor banjo, here's an opportunity to own a classic at a working musicans price!

I don't have a lot of money in this so I'll let it go for a very good price. $275.00