Banjo. 000 Banjo.

Technical description: Open-backed fretless banjo. Probably pitched an octave above a standard banjo. Vellum head. Brass hoop and body. Four brass tension hooks. Neck of walnut. The neck is carved so that the top does not butt against the body, but curves (from a distance of 33mm from the body) down so that a section 13.5mm thick passes through the body on both sides. The strings attach to the lower end of this piece. The head is of the same piece as the neck and body extension. There are four pegs in the head, and a fifth peg into the top of the neck. The pegs are boxwood with inlaid mother-of-pearl eyes surrounded by ebony. The nut is of wood, possibly holly. The fingerboard is ebony, with inlaid decorative stripes forming a parquetry design along each edge. 000 Technical description: Body of brass, soundboard of skin. 4 tensioners of brass. Mahogany neck. Open body (no back). Length of nut to start of the body 273. Neck extends through the body. 4 pegs on the headstock, one on the bass side of the neck (edge of hole 159mm to the front edge of the rim). Nut cut out for 2 strings for the two treble courses, but only 4 pegs, not 6. Fingerboard of ebony, thin veneer. No Frets. Pegs of boxwood.