beezaboy - Posted - 02/08/2014:  14:54:14

I'm really excited about my new B&D Serenader Silver Bell.  It came today.  Pictures attached.

The serial number is 40278 stamped on rim and side of dowel.  I hope Polle will include her in his database.

The dowel is stamped: "Bacon B&D Banjo - Trade Mark Reg. - A GreTsch Product"

It has a knee mute stamped: "Pat April 14, 1931 B&D Soft Pedal"

The tuners are stamped "Planet" with a circle with a ring around it like Saturn and "Pat Pend".  The tuner buttons are awesome.

The tailpiece is stamped "Pat" with a series of numbers that are hard to read.

It has an interesting tone ring that extends pretty deeply into the inside of the rim

It's a tenor with "guitar" frets (fat frets) and a 23" scale.  It is in very nice condition and doesn't appear to have been played very much.  When I opened the case it instantly became one of my favorite banjos!!

I haven't tried to play it yet.

Serenader Silver Bell	Serenader Silver Bell	Serenader Silver Bell	Serenader Silver Bell
Serenader Silver Bell	Serenader Silver Bell	Serenader Silver Bell	Serenader Silver Bell
Serenader Silver Bell

dspainters - Posted - 02/08/2014:  15:07:36

i  like too. looks like a nice banjo.. enjoy

jbalch - Posted - 02/08/2014:  15:51:29

Congratulations

jims38134 - Posted - 02/08/2014:  15:57:41

Interesting. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Real catalin buttons! Nice. Jim

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 02/09/2014:  00:53:50

John,

Congratulations - what a find!

One of the few examples built by Gretsch in 1940/41 - plus in original and near mint condition. I do for sure understand your joy!

I wonder - is it chrome or nickel plated?  Hard to tell from the pics.  Also - do you have a large magnet?  It would be interesting for me knowing about a possible steel bar in the neck.

BTW - the soft pedal mute assembly seems to be one of the few left-over parts from the Bacon Co.

Polle

rudykizuty - Posted - 02/09/2014:  07:23:45

Great find, John! Congratulations!

beezaboy - Posted - 02/09/2014:  13:25:19

Thanks, all.

I'll try to get a big magnet next week and report.

beezaboy - Posted - 02/12/2014:  03:53:34

Polle -

I borrowed a magnet from an electrician friend but could not detect steel inside neck.  Perhaps the magnet was not strong enough.  The Gretsch advertising from 1940 states steel reinforced (see attached from Nov. 1940 Metronome magazine).

The hue of the hardware matches the hue of the soft pedal so hardware looks to be nickel not chrome.

Edited by - beezaboy on 02/12/2014 03:54:28

Metronome Nov. 1940

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 02/13/2014:  02:20:56

John,

Thanks - I had forgotten about the ad.

Regarding the plating - Bacon started using chrome in 1938 - on the Swing model - and later Gretsch built Serenaders are also chrome plated - hence my question.

BTW - have you seen this Gretsch built Sultana #3 - banjoworld.de/Sale2075.htm - the serial number is 40400. A few of the parts - f.ex. the dowel - seem to be left-overs from Bacon - other parts are typically Gretsch.

Polle

Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 02/13/2014 02:24:42

beezaboy - Posted - 02/13/2014:  04:58:46

Polle -

I'll have another look at the Serenader hardware plating.  The 1948 Gretsch catalog describes the Serenader as having chrome plating.  Frankly, I cannot distinguish nickel from chrome.

Thank you for the link to the Sultana.  Beautiful looking banjo.  I wonder what motivated Gretsch to make that one?  I was glad to find the Serenader as it became one of the members of the regular Gretsch B&D/Bacon line of Senorita, Serenader and Symphonie.

While Gretsch banjos are wanting for overall quality the company surely had a talent for producing banjos with bling for the entry to intermediate market.  My assessment is that from the 1930's onward Gretsch did not attempt vigorous competition in the higher end banjo market the Sultana 40400 and the regular line Bacon Symphonie being the exception (and the special order Ne Plus Ultra too).