Wm. Lange PARAMOUNT STYLE A Tenor Banjo & Case 1927

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Wm.Lange PARAMOUNT STYLE A Tenor Banjo & Case 1927 Up for auction is a gorgeous Wm. H. Lange Paramount Style A tenor banjo - one of the leading banjos of its day from one of the leading banjo manufacturers of the early 1900’s. This vintage four string instrument dates to 1927 with a serial number of 8029. The Style A banjos, b ecause they are maple wood, tend to be bright. They are a professional instrument designed by William Lange, who also designed the tone rings for the Epiphone Recording Series, Langestyle banjos, Orpheums and Super Orpheums, etc. The signature Lange tone ring is an arch top consisting of a ring supported by a number of plates imbedded in the rim on edge so the ring is only touched in about 20 or so places and the ring is free to vibrate. The result is a distinctive sound favored by many banjo players. The neck on this banjo is Brazilian rosewood and maple with a maple/rosewood center strip and inlay along the sides. The neck and headstock have very fancy Mother of Pearl inlay, in very good condition and intact as pictured. The nut measures 1 1/8” across, and the fingerboard is 15 ½” long with 19 frets, all showing minimal wear. I’m not sure if the tuners are original – all four match and look older, but are not marked. The banjo has been recently restrung, and the top tuner seems to slip a little. The inside of the wood tone ring is stamped “PATENTED 1348652”, and the serial number 8029 is stamped on the inside of the ring as well as the face of the wooden stretcher bar. The original metal plate inside the tone ring says “Paramount, Patented, Piano – Volume – Harp – Quality- Tone, Manufactured by Wm. L. Lange, New York, N.Y.” The original “Paramount Pat. Pnd’g” adjustable tension swivel lock tailpiece is present. There are 24 head clamps (plus one tailpiece clamp), all uniform with some surface age noted to the metal as pictured. The underside of the metal ring is also stamped “Patented 1550826”. The wrist rest looks to be ebony with Mother of Pearl inlay, in very good condition. The resonator itself is rosewood and maple with wood ring purfling, rosewood rim and cap. It has what looks to be the original hardware to mount the resonator to the instrument. The outside of the resonator has some minor scuffing and small scratches consistent with use as pictured, but no cracks or repairs. This rare antique banjo is exceptionally clean for its age, and has been well cared for and stored carefully. It shows minimal use overall, light wear on the resonator, and light to normal age on the metal parts which should be expected on an instrument this old. The original case is also included, with a purple lining and black exterior. The case is in fair condition with normal age as pictured – wear to the lining, surface rust on the metal parts, and some separation on the handle. Also included inside is an extra “Grover” bridge, a pitch pipe, and an assortment of picks. Please note - I have described this instrument to the best of my abilities, but I am not an expert – please see detailed pictures for complete condition and feel free to ask any questions! Terms: By bidding on this item, you agree to the following terms, in addition to eBay's policies stated in their user agreement. DO NOT BID if you are not serious about buying this item! All items are professionally packed to ensure that they will arrive safely. All estate and consignment items I offer for auction on eBay, including this one, are sold as-is and are not returnable. If you have any questions about this or any of my other items, please e-mail me BEFORE you bid and I'll be happy to answer anything I can! Payment must be received within 5 days of the end of the auction. If an item is lost or damaged in shipping, we will assist during the claims process should it become necessary but will not refund money, unless of course, money is paid to us on your behalf by the shipper. Again, all sales are final. Good luck bidding! read more

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