More pics

Does it play and sound like a dream? It sure is pretty. Congrats!

Hi Tyler - once I’d got the head at 91 with a drum dial, changed from lights to almost mediums and gave the action a tweak - oooh heck. It’s a cannon! It could do with a slightly higher action but I found it threw the intonation at the 2nd fret. Going to take it to Laurie Grundy in a couple of months for a look. There’s a certain amount I can do, but I won’t touch a truss rod! It’s playing great currently though so I’m leaving it be while we get to know each other.

thats is awesome! congrats!

Nice find.

Post some sound clips when you get it where you want it.

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Originally posted by 5Wires

Hi Tyler - once I’d got the head at 91 with a drum dial, changed from lights to almost mediums and gave the action a tweak - oooh heck. It’s a cannon! It could do with a slightly higher action but I found it threw the intonation at the 2nd fret. Going to take it to Laurie Grundy in a couple of months for a look. There’s a certain amount I can do, but I won’t touch a truss rod! It’s playing great currently though so I’m leaving it be while we get to know each other.

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The truss rod is there for a reason...

Adjusting bow. Dont be shy to use it 

I know what truss rods are and how they work. It’s not a fear of using it at all - I’m lucky to have a multi instrument luthier living a suburb over and he’s done adjustments on my RB3 and D28 style custom guitar. To date I’ve not done any truss rod adjustments myself. Further in a couple of months I’ll be spending a few days with Laurie - a Granada expert and builder of Grundy banjos. I’ll get a primer off him - but right now it’s playing beautifully as is. Cheers.

Ah what a beauty! Is that an original notched tension hoop? Most (not all) ball bearings had a grooved tension hoop with flat hooks. I have a 26 Granada; it was my first "old banjo" back in 1977. I still love it. Congrats.

Hi Dick, thanks for your post. Yes. According to Greg Easterling the notched tension hoop and round tension hooks came in late 1926 but prior to it was as you describe - grooved tension hoop and flat hooks. He said we often think 1927 with notched/round, but late ‘26 is when they started showing up. According to the previous owner the only changes were the 5 string and tuners and the flat head tone ring. I’m utterly thrilled with it!

It's my understanding (I could be wrong!) that Ron Block with AKUS, used a 26 Granada with a flat head conversion as his main axe, and may still be using. I believe his had the groove tension hoop and flat hooks.

If anyone knows details I hope you'll share.

quote:

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Originally posted by 5Wires

Hi Dick, thanks for your post. Yes. According to Greg Easterling the notched tension hoop and round tension hooks came in late 1926 but prior to it was as you describe - grooved tension hoop and flat hooks. He said we often think 1927 with notched/round, but late ‘26 is when they started showing up. According to the previous owner the only changes were the 5 string and tuners and the flat head tone ring. I’m utterly thrilled with it!

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Sorry - Greg Earnest.