We are excited to offer this beautiful, handcrafted Brooks Banjo 10L Fretless Nylon 12" Openback. This is a truly unique instrument, with almost every single component made in-house by Brooks Masten, offering a lifetime of musical enjoyment. When we first laid eyes on this banjo, we were immediately struck by everything from the gorgeous grain of the ash neck to the remarkable look of the goat-skin head and oak rim.
The 26" scale length, paired with tuned-down Nylgut strings, provides a warm, plunky sound that transports you straight back to the roots of traditional folk music. It is incredibly pleasing to the ear and practically compels you to keep playing. The wooden tone rim offers a fantastic, earthy resonance, while the seasoned skin head allows for plenty of headroom and volume.
What Makes a Brooks Banjo Unique?
Brooks Masten has been building banjos for decades, honing his artistry and skill to create instruments that are crafted almost entirely under one roof. From bending the oak rims to carving the ash necks, everything is done by hand in his shop. On the hardware side, he has an incredible talent for turning out high-quality, historically accurate hardware modeled after late 19th-century banjos. The ball shoes are exact 1870’s Dobson replicas. With total control over both the wood and the steel of his craft, his results are unmatched by modern commercial makers. The goat skin heads go through many steps to provide low maintenance. We would also like to point out the Douglas Fir bridge that is used and the number of growth rings that are found. This high number relates to how stable and strong this bridge is and results in great tone transfer from the strings to the head.
This banjo comes paired with a premium Superior archtop hardshell case to provide the ultimate protection for your instrument. If you are interested in substituting a different case or a gig bag, please let us know and we will be happy to accommodate you.
Specifications
Serial 523
NECK:
Ash Neck
Scale Length: 26"
Fretless with scoop
Rectangle peghead with tapered top
Brooks Banjo Coin Inlayed into the headstock
Bone Nut
Gotoh Tuners with Black Buttons
BODY:
12” Oak Tone Rim
Goat Skin Head - Pre-stretched and conditioned by Brooks
Brass Hardware made in house
Ball Shoes/hook nuts are exact 1870"s Dobson replicas
Tailpiece are cast bronze
10 Brackets
Tight-grain Douglas Fir Bridge made in-house
Comes with a Superior Hardshell Case
Tuned fCFAC
Can be tuned to any variation, even standard
