Contact (text or email) me for photos - the BHO website isn't working/I can't upload them.

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Just purchased this banjo at the same time as another banjo (a Chuck Lee) and because of bills can only afford to keep one!

Here's the description (knitty-city):

HC Dobson Silver Bell open back 5-string banjo, in excellent playing condition.

These banjos were made between approximately 1880 and 1910. All original except for the tuning pegs which were professionally replaced with modern gear tuners that look like the original fiddle peg tuners. The bridge and tailpiece are also modern, made by Will Fielding. Everything else is in superb shape and is original.

The pot size is slightly less than 11.” The famous Silver Bell tone ring gives it a wonderful round tone. It has an old calfskin head.

Wood rim spun over with brass, all metal parts appear to be brass including original frets. The neck and dowel stick is one solid piece of beautifully-figured mahogany. Thin veneer of what appears to be Brazilian Rosewood over fretboard and headstock. Ebony nut. The plain, small white dot fret markers appear to be made of ivroid.

Dowel stick is stamped near the heel, “5958 Henry C. Dobson, Maker, New York USA.” Near the end of the dowel stick there is another stamp, “Dobson’s Pat. May 14 1878” (Numbers unclear). Another stamp reading, “HC Dobson Pat Nov. 6 1881” appears on the metal at the bottom of the neck.

There is a severe headstock angle, which is typical of these banjos and feels wonderful in your hand. The action measures about 1/4 of an inch at the 12th fret with the bridge that is currently on it. The special tailpiece exerts a downward pressure on the strings behind the bridge, so you use a lower bridge if you like. A few of the tension hooks are slightly bent, but this is normal of a banjo this old. Overall amazing patina/wear patterns from use.

banjo comes with a simple black faux-leather zipped case.

This is a very attractive, wonderful-sounding, easy-to-play banjo. And just for disclosure - the only adjustments I think the banjo needs is a proper head fine-tuning/tightening (just via the hooks) and some medium gauge strings - it has a sweet mellow/resonant (but quieter) voice now, warm with lots of character....but with those adjustments I think it would sound even more superb. I don't wanna attempt a setup and tamper with it too much since I'm not a tech!! So maybe buy considering a minor setup - it'll transform this banjo and reveal its true potential.


Questions are always welcome. Thanks for looking!