The Osprey is a beveled rim, fretted banjo.
The basic Bloom Beveled Rim banjo features a neck shaped very similar to the Fairbanks Whyte Laydie and Regent banjos of the early 1900’s.The book matched Maple with the black center stripe neck is hand fit to the 11.5 inch top beveled rim. The neck features an Ebony finger board with Pearl dots, 17 frets and a Galax scoop. An Ebony heel cap is used.
The Ebony peghead overlay features an engraved Mother of Pearl Hawks head. The inspiration for this figure is from the 1975 Dover Publication of Ornamental Figures by Greisbach. Planetary tuning gears in the peg head and a right angle 5th string gear with Ivoroid buttons are used in conjunction with a replica No Knot Tailpiece. A bone nut and bone 5th string pip are fit and a Fibreskin head is installed. The instrument is strung with GHS PF 180 medium gauge banjo strings. Lighter gauge strings may be used but some loss of tone may result. The instrument is lightly colored to “Fairbanks Amber” finished in gloss lacquer.
Osprey Specs:
- Price on request.
- Bookmatched maple, black center strip neck
- 11.5 inch top beveled rim
- Ebony finger board & heel cap with Pearl dots
- 17 frets
- Galax scoop
- Mother of Pearl hawk’s head peghead
- Planetary tuning gears
- Replica No Knot tailpiece
- Bone Nut and bone 5th string pip
- Fybreskin head
The header photo on this page is Copyright 2018 by Fran Dwight Photography. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
The detail photos on this page are Copyright 2018 by Elderly Instruments. Used with permission.
