Professionally made custom plectrum banjo, with a zero-fret 27" scale. Weight with resonator, between 10 and 11 lbs. When I got it a few years ago, it was a nearly completed project, missing only matched planetary tuners and a resonator. So I added matched vintage machines and a resonator designed for a Mastertone-style tonering and pot, which fits perfectly.
There are mysteries here. The pearloid inlays are beautiful, and the finish work on the pot and heel is as flawless as many finished production banjos. The color schemes on the fingerboard and neck are a rich pearlescent red on white pearloid, very uncommon but striking. A plectrum banjoist with holiday season gigs could wear a matching vest and tie and look quite 20th-century dashing on stage.
The sound profile will be familiar to those acquainted with heavy Mastertone-style instruments. It's loud, clear, and penetrating.
I'm not an expert on weird-but-good banjos. More on the mysteries of this one: The last-fret inlay is lettered, and spells "YONAN". I have not been able, using internet sources, to identify a maker, or player, of this name. Friendly hangout replies have placed the manufacture of this instrument 'around' the 1950s, but I'm not sure it's not actually early 60s, or late 40s. I believe the hardware is of Japanese manufacture, or mostly is. The headstock inlay is the initials K.C. and again, I can't find out any further details about whether this designates a make or model, or rather the player or musician it was intended to please. And as I mentioned, the build or conversion itself was never quite completed when I got it, so this instrument has been barely played. It deserves better. I don't like the top-frosted head, but you might. It has some visible chipping and 'wear' on the back of the peghead, and comes in a vintage TKL hard-shell case, also in barely-played condition. The coordinator rods are metal--this is not a dowel-stick instrument.
