This is an exceptionally special banjo, by any standards - sound, condition, collectability, provenance. It is the much rarer iteration of the style D - the original Brazilian Rosewood with nickel plating. The Brazilian on this example, particularly the neck, is nicer than any that I own - stunning figure. This is a one-owner banjo, purchased by Baldwin's Myron Koenig and owned by him since 1966, following the sale of Ode. It is the FINAL Ode banjo produced in Boulder. Every banjo assembled after this one, including Myron's style B I have listed, was marked with the Baldwin badge.
Everything on this banjo is as it was in 1965-66, including the original 5 ply rim (serial 192), with the exception of a replaced screw on the original Kroll 5th string tuner, the Remo head and the strings. It comes in its original Lifton hardshell case, in much the same pristine condition as the banjo. This banjo has its original frets and there is moderate fret wear on frets 1/2/3 - I would not be replacing them for quite a while, but that area does show wear. There is also some supreficial scuffing near the 5th string tuner (pictured)
I am handling the sale of this banjo for my buddy Myron (keeper of the Baldwin flame, creator of the 1960s 'I am a Baldwin Banjo Picker' buttons, designer of the Style C Baldwin model and much else). I have the banjo in hand and can answer any questions or relay them to Myron.
Please check out the video below.
