For Sale: 1983 Stanleytone Banjo

I will be heading south for several bluegrass festivals this fall. If you are interested in this banjo let me know. The banjo price will go up when it is put on consignment with a local shop. This is the true mountain sounding banjo…you would need Ralph to play it to sound any more like Ralph…and that isn’t possible.


1983 Stanleytone #9 of 50 nickel plated banjos made for Ralph Stanley by Frank Neat. This is a very early Stanleytone with a Cox no hole tone ring. The banjo is in very good to excellent condition. It includes the original case and all the provenance to prove it was played on stage by Ralph in 1983. I have the original bill of sale the night Ralph sold it from stage April 14th 1983 at The Saloon in Dallas, Texas.

The video clips are Steve Sparkman playing #9 back stage at Longs Park in 2010.

The other video is Matthew Henderson playing #9 Hardtimes at Cabin Fever in 2013.

youtu.be/g6ZvOc4NJVs?si=WUEbCYVb9IeZlPG6


youtu.be/WEcazvs6_3o?si=9VfF1g3NRpukjbqW

Be sure to check out my other listing for a 1976 Stelling Bellflower