Anyone ever seen one of these small banjo's?

[gmm55]

I have an old banjo and would like to know more about it. It's smaller than a normal banjo. Here are a few photos. Any information would be appreciated. There are no markings on the banjo.

[frankmcr]

Eight strings, so it's a banjo-mandolin (a/k/a mandobanjo, banjolin etc etc).

[Mandobart]

Yep an early 20th century (probably 1940 or earlier) banjolin. I was given one by a friend a few years back. Needed a dowel rod adjustment, neck shim, New bridge and of course strings but once I did all that it plays and sounds great! Don't try to use modern, heavier mandolin strings like J74's or J75's on it. I use Newtone .008 phosphor bronze strings on mine.

[gmm55]

O.k. thanks for the replies. I'll also try the cafe for a brand name if anyone has one.

[Wade Hampton]

I also own a mandolin-banjo. Mine has an original 1930’s Gibson Mastertone mandolin-banjo neck on modern Mastertone parts.

One key thing about these instruments, gmm55, is that if you use a banjo-style bridge on them you’ll have endless tuning and intonation problems. What works FAR better is the sort of simple one piece mandolin bridge you find on flattop mandolins. They get and stay in tune far better with those.


whm

[Frogstar]

I've got a very similar looking one, but it's in need of a new tailpiece as a number of the bits that hold the loop ends of the strings are broken off.

[The Bard Rocks]

You will find them handy in a jam session if you want to make a fiddle stop playing. I like to say they combine the bad traits of both banjos and mandolins (in a good way). Great for ragtime.

[Tony Burns]

I own a couple banjo mandolins ( in fact several over the years )
their very hard to tune -seems like every strings you tune in puts more strain on the
leather head and take everything else out of tune -
Id say if you can keep it in tune -your a better mandolinist than me !