Don Reno - Posted - 02/19/2026:  07:39:02

I bought a used OME banjo, and I'm wondering if I was ripped off. The previous owner said it belonged to her father. The neck seems to definitely be Ome, but there are no stickers, or serial numbers, anywhere on the banjo inside of out. The fretboard inlays are hard to describe as they vary. I wouldn't call it hearts and flowers. This seems odd to me, and I'm trying to figure out what model this is and when it was built. Any Ome experts out there?

Edited by - Don Reno on 02/19/2026 07:40:07

TheLastWord - Posted - 02/19/2026:  07:48:04

Pictures would help. Front, back, inside the rim...

banjered - Posted - 02/19/2026:  08:50:22

Daughter? She could in actuality be one the banjo 'experts' who occasionally sells a "Remo" banjo. banjered

pinenut - Posted - 02/19/2026:  10:48:20

Ome's have distinct construction features.  catalog pdf files:  omebanjosdev.com/assets/

Please post pictures or link to pictures of an equivalent instrument.

Edited by - pinenut on 02/19/2026 11:15:36

eagleisland - Posted - 02/19/2026:  12:53:10

Definitely post pictures.

Ome is a comparatively obscure brand known mainly to banjo nerds. They're lovely instruments. That said, I have a hard time believing anyone would counterfeit one.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 02/19/2026:  13:07:03

An Ome should have a serial number on the inside of the shell. I have had two, more than 30 years apart, and both were so numbered.

Don Reno - Posted - 02/20/2026:  07:15:43

Thanks to those who have responded. I'm working on getting some jpegs to post (I'm not good with tech).

okbanjobill - Posted - 02/20/2026:  14:17:56

There also pretty pricey and well worth it. Hopefully not an ome neck on a different pot. The flange is easily identifiable.

Redbone - Posted - 03/17/2026:  10:39:29

I have a slothead Ome "Eclipse" model for sale. The number is clearly stamped on the rim. Ome was sold a year or two ago to GoldTone in Florida but you can call Chuck Ogsbury. His newest line is less expensive "STARR" brand.