mcgoverner - Posted - 01/11/2012:  11:00:20

Hello Out There... 

I recently picked up a Bacon Professional FF, serial #r 499 and am wondering if anyone would be willing to tell me a little bit about it... I've read a lot of the earlier posts regarding Bacon's history and am real excited to see that there is a bit of mystique behind these instruments... I picked this thing up and began to play it and it just filled the room with sound, a lovely, rich sound and I bought the banjo sort of on impulse... I am going to post some photographs, so please feel free (Polle and Carl) to pick it apart and ask questions if it helps out your data base... It is missing the original 5th string peg, but the guy who sold it to me is searching for one as we speak... Besides that, everything is in pretty good shape I would say, and best of all it plays like a dream... So here it is... I'd love to get a date on it if anything, and perhaps a guess as to if the case is original as well... Thanks! 

1xsculler - Posted - 01/11/2012:  13:26:16

It's a neat old banjo.  I just sold one for my sister to whom I gave it forty years ago.  I paid $60 for it and sold it for her on ebay for $1600.

BTuno - Posted - 01/11/2012:  16:11:35

Greetings mcgoverner, welcome to the BHO!   Very nice, can't read what the stamp on the IR says.  Probably made by Vega.  Can you show us the peghead?   Is the rim 10 3/4 or 11 in.?   

esmic - Posted - 01/11/2012:  19:14:42

You have an FF Professional No 1 made for Bacon by Vega in Boston, c. 1910. (The FF comes from the musical term fortissimo , written as ff  in dot notation, which means "loud"). Bacon was an accomplished classic (finger style) banjoist. The Vega made FF's were his first banjos. He started the company c. 1905, selling his banjos through other musicians/teachers, mail order and at personal engagements. They are very well made, sound great and a delight to play. 

For around $5.00 you can get a really fine reproduction copy of his 1906 catalog through Bernunzio's, if you are interested. His higher grade banjos, depicted in the catalog are quite something.

I happen to own the litter mate to yours, no 500. If pics did not attach, see them at my home page.

Edited by - esmic on 01/11/2012 19:18:49

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 01/12/2012:  04:28:42

Colin,

Have a look at:  acoustudio.dk/BD_and_Bacon_database.html

Polle

Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 01/12/2012 04:30:58

carlb - Posted - 01/12/2012:  07:09:05

mcgoverner and esmic,



I'd love more information on these two banjos which are presently not in the data base. I'd appreciate if you'd look at the Excel file and provide me with all the information you can (if you send me a private message, then I'll have your email address so we can correspond more easily and directly):

sugarinthegourd.com/BaconProfe...alBanjos/

Of course, I always love pictures and will get the ones you already have posted. I don't know if your two banjos have unique features that aren't already in the pictures I have on the web site. I do get much information for the Excel file from pictures but never can get measurements from them. I've never made any guesses about the exact year they were made as there really isn't such information available, only people's guesses.

I hope you love the sound of yours as I do mine and thanks for posting about them. First two Bacon Professionals added this New Year and they're adjacent.

Carl