The Instrument

The instrument is a short scale (17 fret) Irish tenor banjo, made around 1925 in Boston, USA. It bears no makers name or other identifying marks and was probably made by an enthusiast. A very accomplished one at that!

It is fitted with an original 'Waverly' tailpiece, by which the instrument has been dated. The bridge is an original 'Farquhar', now very rare. Only copies are currently available of both the bridge and tailpiece and both are highly sought after.

The skin and strings are new and the heads have been changed at some time with good quality replacements.

All in all a very nice instrument, with an excellent tone. This is going to have to last me a VERY long time - certainly until I become VERY proficient.

I'm very grateful to my brilliant wife, Sheila. I know full well she could have pointed out a whole list of other things on which to spend my hard earned pension but she resisted and all I have ever had from her is encouragement. Thanks petal.

I also need to throw a thankyou the way of my very good mates Dennis & Bill, who at various times have had a chuckle at my expense when - once again - I suggested that I might get a little more serious about actually trying to play an instrument, only for me to neglect their encouragement. Well this time lads it's SERIOUS. Watch this space.

I have dabbled - not seriously up to now - with an Italian banjo, which is nice but this is better! It is now my intention to give it some hammer! I want to learn to play Irish reels, jigs and shanties to as high a standard as possible. Whether this enthusiasm is well founded or not only time will tell.

Stay with me, won't you? Could be a bumpy ride!

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