Skip to main content
2-string banjo
2-string banjo
2-string banjo

2-string banjo

Maker
Date1930 ca.
Place MadeUnited States, North America
Serial No.none
Signedpainted in gold on bottom of resonator: H
Markingsnone
DescriptionNeck: yellow-poplar [Liriodendron tulipfera; identified microscopically by John Koster]; originally for a 5-string banjo, it has been cut down to fit this instrument; hole for 5th-string tuner
Peghead: yellow-poplar [Liriodendron tulipfera; identified microscopically by John Koster], same piece of wood as neck; face painted black, back lacquered reddish-brown, sides painted gold
Fingerboard: integral with top side of neck, gold-painted
Heel cap: none; heel is lacquered reddish-brown
Head: animal skin
Tone ring: none
Body: Gold-painted metal canister with black-painted triangle pattern; 4 small holes in bottom, one small hole on either side
Bracket hooks: 13 nickel-plated steel
Shoes: 13 nickel-plated brass
Tension hoop: gold-painted nickel-plated steel
Dowel stick: dark-stained yellow-poplar [Liriodendron tulipfera]
Nut: 2 small brass dome-headed slot screws
Tuners: 2 white plastic pegs
Tailpiece: bottom bracket hook also serves as tailpiece, shoe is attached higher on the rim than the others
Finish: mostly unfinished, except remnants of reddish-brown lacquer on re-purposed 5-string banjo neck
DimensionsTotal instrument length: 710 mm (27-15/16”)
Vibrating string length: 583 mm (22-15/16”)
Fingerboard length: 467 mm (18-3/8”)
Fingerboard width at nut: 18 mm (23/32”)
Fingerboard width at body: 27 mm (1-1/16”)
Head diameter: 143 mm (5-5/8”)
Resonator diameter: 118 mm (4-21/32”)
Rim and resonator depth: 130 mm (5-1/8”)

ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number04984
On View
Not on view
Cittern
Petrus Rautta
1620 ca.
Violin bow
1800-1850 ca.
Square piano
Charles Albrecht
1795 ca.
Plectrum banjo
Vega Company
1958 ca.
Resonator banjo-ukulele
John Bolander, Sr.
1917-1925 ca.
Plectrum banjo
Vega Company
1969 ca.
We use cookies to ensure we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to use this site or by closing or clicking "I agree", you agree to the use of cookies. I agree