stanger says:
3/13/2014 9:58:05 AM

Hi, Lynn…
It's an Arkansas-made banjo. Baldwin continued to use the aluminum mold that Chuck had made for his banjos before the Baldwin sale, and the 'Boulder, Colorado' lettering was never altered in the mold.

Your banjo is a Style 2, the only banjo with the aluminum rim that Baldwin produced. In 1964, just 2 years before the sale, the same rim was used with a wide variety of tone ring systems and necks. Until 1965, Ode only made banjos with aluminum rims. Yours is a Standard (the term for a 5-string with a standard length neck) Resonated. It was probably made ca. 1972. These banjos were the first to be made in Baldwin's new factory in Arkansas, and for about 18 months after it opened, the earliest used parts that were made in Colorado. By 1969, Baldwin closed the Boulder shop and moved everything to Arkansas.

Baldwin intended all the banjos to be fully professional. the 2SR was their entry level instrument, and enjoyed a wide popularity with players of all levels. They are very sturdy, very well made, and in no way are cheap beginner's instruments.

At that time, the extra long necked 5-string banjos, the ones with 3 extra frets that were the favorites of the folk singers of the 60's, were still very popular, and only the Style 2 was offered in a long neck. It was also offered as an openback (no resonator) in all the banjo types. Besides the 2 5-strings, it was made in tenor and plectrum versions, both 4-string banjos used for playing with a flatpick instead of the fingers.

The Baldwin banjos underwent many small cosmetic changes during the 14 years of manufacture, but the Style 2 was the least changed of the 3 styles Baldwin made.

Currently, most of the banjos with the aluminum rim are selling for $750 up. The pre-Baldwin Odes typically sell for more, and much depends on the Style and Grade. 'Grade' indicated the wood used in the neck and the degree of ornamentation. Before the buyout, Odes came in Grades 1 to 6, with a multiple bunch of Styles.

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