I just stopped by an antiques store opposite the Capitol here in Madison, WI that had a banjo uke in the window. The poor thing was in sorry shape - remnants of steel strings at the head, no bridge, the head was painted with a horribly amateurish picture, and flower petals (poorly) painted on the ring all the way around. The head was plain, although someone had either painted or carved an elaborate (and unreadable) monogram right in the middle, and the first three frets had also been painted black.
There were 18 j-hooks around the ring, (15 of them connected), and the mounts for a resonator. The neck showed some wear around near the head, and the mounting hardware on the compensator was pretty heavy duty. There also appeared to be some kind of resonator mounted between the head and the compensator, It weighed about 3 pounds.
Again, not in great shape, and I was ready to offer $100- 150 for the instrument. The owner said "Oh, yeah, the antiques road show folks looked at his... its value is $1,100."
I explained why it couldn't possibly be worth that, and he said it is more folk art, that I shouldn't think of it as a playable instrument.
I left.
So, who is crazy - me,or him?
-Kurt
There were 18 j-hooks around the ring, (15 of them connected), and the mounts for a resonator. The neck showed some wear around near the head, and the mounting hardware on the compensator was pretty heavy duty. There also appeared to be some kind of resonator mounted between the head and the compensator, It weighed about 3 pounds.
Again, not in great shape, and I was ready to offer $100- 150 for the instrument. The owner said "Oh, yeah, the antiques road show folks looked at his... its value is $1,100."
I explained why it couldn't possibly be worth that, and he said it is more folk art, that I shouldn't think of it as a playable instrument.
I left.
So, who is crazy - me,or him?
-Kurt