(SOLD) $400: Menzies gourd banjer for sale

[Strumelia]

This is Jeff Menzies gourd banjo, #67 made in 2005:

http://jeffreymenzies.com/instruments/instruments-gourd-banjo-67/

http://jeffreymenzies.com/wp-content/uploads/files/instruments/Gour...

Over length approx 41" (including long endpin)

The gourd is about 8" diameter/width, and 6" deep.  Walnut neck, skin head, bone tailpiece, Nygut strings, tacks.  As per Jeff's instructions, I carefully added a sound hole to the gourd which gave the volume a nice extra boost- see photo with the sound hole.

Scale length is 26" from nut to center of skinhead.

Grey formica fretboard/peghead overlay- which makes for nice buttery smooth slides (but obviously wouldn't be period-correct for CW reenactments).

This banjo belonged to oldtime Round Peak player and field recorder Ray Alden until when he passed away in 2009... I bought it from Ray's widow.  This is a quality Menzies banjo that is in the same perfect condition as when it was made in 2005.  Most new Menzies gourds are priced for six or seven hundred dollars nowadays (and well worth it, I might add!)

This is a nice banjo for either traveling or for playing at home alone or with a friend as duet.  Though is has a lovely tone and volume, smaller gourds are naturally not as loud as large 10-11" gourds, so this wouldn't be the banjo to grab for playing in group jams.  But since the neck length is full sized so you can play in the usual gourd banjo or minstrel tunings.  (If you didn't already know, gourd banjos should not be tuned up to typical high 'oldtime' tunings...minstrel tunings are perfect)  The smaller gourd is sturdier- more worry free to bring along whenever you want to sit down and play a few gourdish tunes.

It's a sweet banjer!  But I have two Menzies gourd banjos, and I need to raise enough money to buy a custom epinette/zitter I've been wanting for a long while.  I'll be putting this for sale on BanjoHangout soon, but i wanted to offer it here first to Minstrelbanjo friends in case someone is interested.

REDUCED: Price:  $450 $400 plus shipping and insurance.  Shipped from New York state to mainland US only.  Paypal or cash(in person) only.  Sorry, no returns.

No case, but will be carefully packaged and insured. 

See some photos in Jeff's links at top of this post.  Also here are some additional photos.  (Note also the 1st photo below, showing the round sound hole I added after speaking to Jeff.)

Thanks!   :)