Sam Devere 2

Comment by Mark Weems on October 30, 2012 at 7:59pm

Yes, and his head is so big that it makes his hat look small!

Comment by Carl Anderton on October 30, 2012 at 9:00pm

Lots of amazing detail here.  Notice how much string is wrapped around the first string peg; to wind down when it frays?  I know I do that.

Comment by Strumelia on October 30, 2012 at 9:14pm

That's what happens when you get famous.  

Note the metal fretboard overlay.

Comment by Ian Bell on October 30, 2012 at 10:07pm

What an incredibly crisp shot! You can see the weave in his trousers. Not to mention the pegs in his boots.

Comment by Ian Bell on October 31, 2012 at 6:18am

Can anyone fill me in on the actual purpose of the sheet-metal on part of the fingerboard? I've seen a number of banjos like that over the years. (old and new)

Comment by Joel Hooks on October 31, 2012 at 6:41am

It could cover up wear in the fingerboard.  It was also just fancy.  Just before, and esp. after the ACW the banjo became a reflection of the industrial revolution.  More metal and hooks.  In some cases, all metal rims.

Funny that "patent head" tuning machines never stuck.  Well, neither did wire strings, until WW1.

Comment by Mark Weems on October 31, 2012 at 8:09am

Ian,

Many players from the Round Peak area down here on the North Carolina and Virginia border still play fretless instruments often with the sheet metal on the fingerboard. It does keep the fretboard from wearing down faster, but having played several of these, it actually sounds a little different (hard to describe) and is really nice for doing lots of slides, getting those microtones etc., which is so much part of the Round Peak sound.

Comment by Strumelia on October 31, 2012 at 4:26pm

I used to have an 1880's English fretless banjo with tin fretboard overlay to the 5th fret.  I also have a custom fretless I had made for me with nickel silver overlay the same way.   Playing on a metal overly fretless is really wonderful and slidey, a great feel.  I have no doubt people made them that way new, as opposed to assuming they were covering up wood fretboard damage.

Comment