Instruments -- Mine and Other's


Here sits the Holy Grail of Gibson Banjos (9584-3)
This is Earl's old '34 Granada. The Man was overhead to say when asked if everything was original on this instrument, "Well yes.  Except for the neck.  I shaved that down.  They told me it would warp, and, well,  it did.  Oh, and the tension hoop.  I replaced that in....."  Except for the gold tonering peaking out from under the head, this banjo looks just like a new Gibson Earl Scruggs model banjo.  The nice original 70's strap, has since been replaced.

Another picture of 9584-3.

Another  banjo icon -- Sonny's Granada (9584-2). 
This is a great sounding '34 Granada just one number away from Earl's.  While today it sports a reproduction neck made by Frank Neat, this banjo is an original, one-piece flange, flathead, five-string.  Sonny was overhead asking Earl if he though that the same person made both his and Earl's banjos.  Earl responded, "Should have kilt him right then and there."

Another picture of 9584-2.

1933 Gibson PB-Granada Flathead (9526-1)
The original plectrum neck has extra inlays at the 3rd and 15th frets.  In addition to a zinc "pot metal" 1-piece flange, this banjo has a zinc tension hoop.  Today, it has an Osborne Chief 5-string neck in it (a very fine neck that is based on the original neck of Sonny's Granada) while it awaits a new reporduction 5-sting handle from Frank Neat.  It is an awesome instrument.

Pictures of 9526-1 in original plectrum state (some photos courtesy Gruhn Guitars)    Picture of 9526-1 w/Chief neck

'29 Gibson Granada (9261-21) conversion from tenor. 
I have been playing this banjo for about 6 years.  It is a special instrument to me, although it sometimes has to take a back seat.  This banjot sports a Hopkins-McPeake conversion ring that was custom gold plated after being copper flashed and a new Remo head.     This Hearts and Flowers pattern neck was also shaped by Jimmy Fee from a Sullivan blank. I mixed the colors and finished the neck...so when I stripped the finish off the backside of the neck no one felt bad.  It is a very strong banjo.

Wynn's Axe -- 1934 Gibson Granada (9562-7)

Wynn's banjo was once a tenor, or a plectrum -- I don't know which.  The resonator number is 9526-7, so either this resonator is a cousin of 9526-1 above or, more likely, it was a typo reversing the last two digits of the number on the shell.  The resonator has "old style" concentric rings on the back and the flange is engraved.  Today is has a Frank Neat reproduction 5-string neck.  It is a great sounding instrument and, in Wynn's hands, an absolute tone monster.

Another shot of 9562-7


 
Please feel free to contact me via email (tbiggs@cfl.rr.com).