SOLD

For Sale: Wildwood Balladeer Banjo in Like New Condition

asking: $1,699 - price new: $3,550

truesdel@gmail.com / (714) 662-2622

My Wildwood Balladeer has been babied and is in "as new" condition. The striking feature of this banjo is the finely crafted mother of pearl and abalone inlays depicting “the tree of life” pattern.

Hard-shell case is included.

also available: Deering Calico, likewise babied/like-new

My Wildwood Balladeer. click image for larger view
The "Tree of Life" vine inlay in abalone and Mother of Pearl. The inlay work is of the highest craftsmanship. It is hard to capture the subtle red and green and irredescent tones of the inlays. click image for larger view
Peghead and first 8 frets of the fingerboard with a good detail view of the beautiful inlay work. click image for larger view
Note the richly figured fiddleback maple on back of peghead and neck. Ebony laminated between two neck halves because a laminated neck stays truer through wider changes in temperature and humidity. click image for larger view
The banjo head and some detail of the abalone and mother or pearl inlay work. click image for larger view
A view inside the pot reveals the compensator rod for adjusting neck angle. This view also shows Wildwood's laminated block pot construction. click image for larger view
Side view of my Balladeer. The effect of the bracket shoe band is a “warmer” sound, increased volume and sustain. click image for larger view
The hard-shell case is the TKL 8942 Professional Arch-Top which retails for $315 — included at no extra cost. click image for larger view
TKL 8942 standing on its side. Retail: $315 — included at no extra cost. click image for larger view

From Wildwood.com:

BALLADEER: Our best fiddleback maple neck, ebony fingerboard and peghead, binding and wood purfling on both neck and rim, elegant mother of pearl and abalone inlays depicting "the tree of life" pattern. Standard block laminated rim, Tubaphone-style tone ring with bracket shoe band.

A personal interest in old timey music led to the birth of the company. As a frailer, finding a good banjo that was not an expensive vintage instrument was challenging. It was clear that there was a need for a contemporary line of open back banjos dedicated to the clawhammer/frailing style of playing. That dedication has never changed. Special thanks to Art Rosenbaum, John Burke and the many other great frailers who have supported Wildwood over the years.

The traditional open back banjos all feature fancy fiddleback maple necks (plain maple on Minstrels) and hard rock maple block laminated rims. All models feature our version of the Tubaphone-style tone ring, some with bracket shoe bands, and all with a dedication to sound and style you expect from Wildwood.

Wildwood Banjos have always used the block laminated rim. Actually, we helped pioneer this rim back in 1970 with several other custom builders in the Los Angeles area, and have been the only company continuously using this style of rim. It has become our standard and distinguishes Wildwood Banjos from others.

The Traditional models are designed around the same basic rim assembly. The adornment increases with each model such as fancy figured maple, more complex inlays, binding or wood purfling, etc. Standard options for all models include neck scooping (for up the neck frailing), heel carving, specialized inlays, gold plating, and hardware engraving.

Bracket shoe bands are standard on the HEIRLOOM and BALLADEER models, but can be added as an addition to any model. The effect of the bracket shoe band is a “warmer” sound , increased volume, and sustain. The rim is turned to accept the bracket band much like a flange assembly on a bluegrass rim. The result is a look typical of the finer vintage banjos.

asking: $1,699 - price new: $3,550

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