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Matt Umanov Guitars

Paramount Banjo 5-String Conversion 1929

Paramount Banjo 5-String Conversion 1929

$1,559.00
$1,559.00
Sale Sold
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Paramount was one of the few fretted instrument manufacturers that were right here in New York City back a hundred years ago, when it was still possible to have any kind of factory at all in Manhattan. It was on E. 24th St. in an industrial area hard by the East River with slaughterhouses, gas works, and more all around it back then, quite unlike the lovely residential neighborhood it started to become after WW II. 

Many of the features later found on Gibson Mastertone banjos, like the flange and resonator, were introduced on William L. Lange’s Paramount banjos in the early 1920s. Several of their models had letter designations and the Model B was right up there in fanciness, with mother-of-pearl inlay and more. The vast majority of Paramounts were four-string tenors to go with the popular music of the day; 5-string versions were extremely rare. This Paramount has had its 5-string neck made to the exact spec and design of its original tenor neck in solid rosewood, with fancy wood marquetry below its Ivoroid fingerboard bindings, and complete fingerboard inlay to match the orignials. The peghead overlay, with is leafy pearl tuning peg surrounds and engraved “Paramount”, was taken in its entirety from the original neck, a bit worn and all the more charming for that. The tuning pegs are thankfully modern geared Planets with a matching geared 5th string peg. Now here's the real thing about Paramount banjos: they’re LOUD. And I mean LOUD; the tones overall are so big and so bright. When you play this Paramount they'll know you are HERE. Plays like a champ too, sharp as can be. Comes with a really nice padded gig bag. Total bargain of the year at only $1595 w’bag

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