Turtle Hill Banjo Company

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Turtle Hill
Banjo Company
David E. Schenkman
P.O. Box 265
Bryantown, MD 20617
301-274-3441
 

Used Banjos
5 String Resonator - 5 String Open Back - Four String

Click here for our New Banjos page

Below is a list of used banjos currently in stock. See something of interest? We will be glad to furnish a complete description and price on request.

 What's New in Banjos

5 String Resonator Banjos

We have many prewar Gibson banjos in stock in addition to those listed below (sorry, no original flatheads at present). Tell us what you are looking for and we'll be glad to let you know if we have it.

Crafters of Tennessee mahogany Classic. This is a nice banjo in all respects. It is available with or without the Keith "D" tuners and onboard tuner. -- Pics


Deering
Calico Custom. This was special ordered with a Cremona finish. And, it has chrome plated metal parts (except for the armrest, which is nickel). Overall condition is very nice; it has fret wear and one small area of scuffing on the back of the neck. -- Pics
Deering
Black Diamond. Other than a little wear on the first few frets, this is in practically virtually mint condition. It has chrome plating, which is an expensive Deering option. -- Pics

Eucalypt by Roger Simpson. This interesting banjo was hand made in Australia by well known builder Roger Simpson (and his wife, who does the interesting resonator inlays). The flange, tension hoop, and tone ring have a coppery finish. It has a block rim which I assume was made by Roger. The fingerboard inlays are quite distinctive; this one will definitely stand out in a crowd. With the exception of a bit of finish checking on the resonator, the banjo is in like new condition. -- Pics

Gibson RB-800. Circa early 1960s. One piece flange, with Flying Eagle inlay. Gold plated and engraved metal parts. The tailpiece doesn’t appear to be original. The tuners are not original, and thus the screw holes in the back of the peghead. It has a set of Keith-Bump-Scruggs “D” tuners. The 564xxx serial number suggests that it was made in 1962, but according to a serial number list this is two years before Gibson started making the model. Whatever the year, it is a very early RB-800. There are small filled holes on the side of the neck where a sliding capo was removed. Overall condition is very nice. -- Pics
Gibson
one-of-a-kind Florentine, circa 1934. This is undoubtedly the rarest prewar Gibson archtop banjo in existence! From the front it looks like a regular Florentine, with the ice cream cone peghead and scenes of Italy on the fingerboard, but the resonator and neck carvings are completely different than on any other banjo. It also has one piece flange construction, which is found on only a few Florentines. See Four String banjos below. -- Pics
Gibson
RB-11. Circa 1930s. This is in “as-received” condition from the original owner’s family. It is completely original, except for the tailpiece which is a Kerschner of the period, but made for a four-string banjo. The original skin head is split, and practically all of the paint on the back of the neck is gone (nowadays they pay extra for this and call it a speed neck). The flange is solid but pulled up quite a bit, as can be seen in the pics. Original prewar five-string Gibsons are harder and harder to find, and they keep going up in value. With a new head this could make a fine sounding banjo. I would hope that the new owner would keep it original and not cut the rim for a tone ring. -- Pics
Gibson
RB-250. Circa 1960s. This is a classic bowtie Gibson, in exceptionally clean condition. All original, including friction fifth string peg and box tuners. Mahogany. Flathead. Bowtie banjos are getting more and more difficult to get, so if you’ve been wanting one, now’s the time! -- Pics
Gibson
RB-250. Circa late 1960s. This type of Gibson, with bowtie inlay and fiddle cut peghead, was only made for a couple of years in the late 1960s. This is an exceptionally clean example. Mahogany, with three piece neck. There are two small holes in the side of the neck, where a sliding capo was removed. Two capo spikes are installed, and there is a tiny hole in the fingerboard where a third spike was removed. It still has the box tuners and friction fifth string peg. Chrome plated metal parts and a flathead tone ring. It has a thin rim, as made, but it is a very good sounding banjo.. -- Pics
Gibson
TB-11. 1930s. This is a completely original one piece flange Gibson, with the following exceptions:the tab tuners were replaced with friction tuners; and it is missing the tailpiece and armrest. We will be glad to have a five string conversion neck made by First Quality Music, and will have the tone ring of your choice installed. Or, it may be purchased as a tenor. Call for details. -- Pics
Gibson Truett. Circa late 1930s. This plectrum banjo is identical to the Gibson Kel Kroydon KK-10, except for the name on the peghead. It has the standard Gibson one piece flange construction. Truett banjos are quite rare, and are seldom offered for sale at any price. If you collect prewar Gibsons, or just want a great banjo to convert to 5-string, this is a great choice. Nice condition throughout, and 100% original! See Four String banjos below. -- Pics

Osborne Chief. Maple wood, Hearts & Flowers inlay, and gold plated parts. Blaylock tone ring. Speed neck. Includes the original “Osborne Chief” leather strap. Other than some fret wear, it is in very nice condition. -- Pics on hold

Stelling Red Fox. 2004. This banjo has the Pass ThinSkirt rim. Excellent condition, with normal fret wear on the first five frets. -- Pics
Stelling
Crusader. 2005. If you are looking for a mahogany Stelling, this is it! Condition is virtually like new in all respects, except for a tiny bit of fret wear. -- Pics


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5 String Open Back Banjos


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Four String Banjos
(Tenor unless otherwise specified)

Gibson Truett. Circa late 1930s. This plectrum banjo is identical to the Gibson Kel Kroydon KK-10, except for the name on the peghead. It has the standard Gibson one piece flange construction. Truett banjos are quite rare, and are seldom offered for sale at any price. If you collect prewar Gibsons, or just want a great banjo to convert to 5-string, this is a great choice. Nice condition throughout, and 100% original! -- Pics
Gibson TB-1. 1930s. This one piece flange Gibson is in nice condition. The flange is fairly flat and very solid. The tension hoop is a replacement. It is missing the tailpiece, and the armrest is not original. It may be purchased as a tenor, or we will be glad to have a five string neck made and flathead ring installed. -- Pics
Gibson TB-11. 1930s. This is a completely original one piece flange Gibson, with the following exceptions:the tab tuners were replaced with friction tuners; and it is missing the tailpiece and armrest. We will be glad to have a five string conversion neck made by First Quality Music, and will have the tone ring of your choice installed. Or, it may be purchased as a tenor. Call for details. -- Pics
Gibson
one-of-a-kind Florentine, circa 1934. This is undoubtedly the rarest prewar Gibson archtop banjo in existence! From the front it looks like a regular Florentine, with the ice cream cone peghead and scenes of Italy on the fingerboard, but the resonator and neck carvings are completely different than on any other banjo. It also has one piece flange construction, which is found on only a few Florentines. -- Pics
Gibson
TB-3, circa 1932. This is an original one piece flange mahogany banjo, with 40-hole archtop tone ring, ready for conversion. First the negatives: there is a small cracked spot, nearly two inches long, on the resonator side wall. Other than that, the resonator is in nice condition. The flange is not only badly pulled up, but has some cracks which can be seen in the pics. It seems solid enough, although if I was converting the banjo I’d put a new flange on and preserve the original one. The neck was broken and crudely repaired both at the heel and at the peghead. Since most prospective buyers will be interested in the banjo for conversion, the original neck is not an important factor. One of the resonator thumb screws is not original. And, the arm rest is chrome, and it is the type made for an armrest mute. Evidently it came on the banjo, but the other parts of the mute are not present. Feel free to call if I can provide any additional information. --Pics

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