Bacon & Day Silver Bell #2 (1925)

Description

Any history of the plectrum banjo is incomplete without a discussion of the fantastic models manufactured by Connecticut's Bacon & Day during the Jazz Age, including this Silver Bell #2 dating from 1925. Featuring all-maple construction with a gorgeous pie-plate resonator, this Chicago-tuned four-string is punchy and loud but also has a surprisingly rich and three-dimensional tone, likely due in no small part to its multi-hole tone ring - Bacon's design arguably ended up being the progenitor for the modern Gibson Mastertone system that forever changed the world of the resonator banjo, as well as acoustic music in general. This is a remarkably beautiful model, with gorgeous mother-of-pearl inlays on the headstock and fingerboard, an ornately carved neck heel, and an incredibly cool cupped flange in the style of Washburns from the same era.

This instrument arrived in our store in very good condition relative to its age, with better than average cosmetic condition and a few aftermarket alterations. The most obvious is the installation of a Barcus Berry Hot Pot transducer pickup, likely installed in the 1970s, which cannot be removed without leaving holes in the banjo's pot. While the pickup is older technology and perhaps a bit intrusive as compared to modern banjo transducers, it is in good condition and still provides a clear, high-output signal. The nickel armrest is also non-original. Cosmetic wear is overall light for an instrument now over 100 years old, with a below-typical amount of scuffs and scratches. Finish checking is less pronounced than may be expected, indicating that the neck and resonator were likely oversprayed at some point within the last 50 years. A small piece of the fingerboard at the very bottom right next to the pot is missing; this missing piece of wood is not part of a playable fret and does not impact the playability whatsoever. The banjo's set up is excellent, with lots of life left in the original frets and a very clear sound totally devoid of fret buzz.

Included in the price is a modern hard-shell case, which provides a good fit, but is missing a patch of hard material on the top. This case should not be considered to be any more protective than a gig bag, and care should be taken when the banjo is transported.

*Please note, per our return policy, all sales on used and consignment instruments are final.*