Our fretless Minstrel Banjo is a 19th Century reproduction that we handcraft ourselves out of Cherry, Black Walnut or Curly Maple. They are not museum reproductions, but are a good representation of the era for the banjo player that likes a playable instrument on stage or outside in all kinds of weather.
CHERRY BLACK WALNUT CURLY MAPLE
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Here are our 2024 prices:
To order a Minstrel Banjo, simply use the contact tab and tell us your preferences in the comments section.
Our STANDARD MINSTREL BANJO comes with a laminated 12” pot with your choice of Cherry or Black Walnut veneer on the outside. The neck is made of solid Cherry or Black Walnut. It comes with Remo 12” Fiberskyn head and Nylgut Minstrel strings. The tuning pegs are solid Ebony and the bridge is Maple. The standard string length is 25". Other string lengths are available upon request. You have your choice of solid Brass shoes in either Star, Eagle, Leaf, Bow Tie, or Shield (cast from original 19th century shoes) and your choice of tailpiece from a solid Brass Hand (our own design) or a hardwood Fan tailpiece which is secured onto the dowel stick with a pliable copper wire is included in the price. (See picture below)
Price $699
Our DELUXE MINSTREL BANJO in Curly Maple comes with the same choices as the Standard except the pot is laminated Curly Maple and the neck is solid Curly Maple with a sunburst stain.
Price $799
BOTH Models come with a William Boucher style neck and headstock with beehive. Other styles of necks and headstocks can be done. We can put Black Gotoh planetary pegs on your Boucher style headstock for an extra $150. Also we can do a slotted Levi Brown style peghead with geared pegs for an extra $150. We can make any of our banjos LEFT-HANDED at no extra charge.
Now available is the EARLY BANJO QUICKSTART book by Tim Twiss. (Something So Old...It Seems Brand New) with an audio link on the internet for the songs in the book. Price $15
Watch Tim Twiss demonstrate our Minstrel Banjo or visit his webpage at www.timtwiss.com for lessons.
(NOTE: This is a 15 year old video and our prices have gone up due to the increase of our cost of materials.)
Your choice of Tailpieces and Shoes
Click picture to enlarge
You can also purchase just the Individual SHOES. Your choice of Solid Brass shoes in top row are Star, Eagle, Leaf at $8.50 each. Bottom row are the Union Forever Eagle ($15), the Bow Tie or Shield at $8.50 each. Each shoe is supplied with a 12-24 x 1/2 slot head screw.
Price $8.50 each
*The Union Forever Eagle is NO longer available because of an accident at the foundry. Price $15.00 each
You can just purchase TAILPIECES from either the Solid Brass Hand or the Hardwood Fan.
Price $20 each
WOODEN COFFIN CASES are made to fit OUR Minstrel Banjos and most Parlor Guitars. They are painted black and have 2 hinges and 2 safety latches. They are lined with Red Wool Felt and Victorian paper. The OUTSIDE measurements are 40" long, 15" at the widest point, and INSIDE measurements are 4 3/4" deep to fit a banjo with a 12" diameter pot and a total length of 39" including the dowel stick.
Price $150 with a purchase of an instrument. $175 case alone.
We also have padded gig bags available for $55.00
To order, simply use the contact tab and tell us your preferences in the comments section.
NOTE: If you are an international buyer, you may be subject to your country's customs charge.