Trujo Special Plectrum Banjo by Gibson Kalamazoo - Opportunity for sale in Spokane, WA
For sale! Here is a VERY rare Trujo Special plectrum banjo, complete with it's original hardshell case! I am not certain about the year this was made, but there was a Trujo Style B that sold for $2,900 on ebay last month that advertised as 1932 with a serial number slightly lower than mine, so maybe 1933? The Trujo banjo company was founded by Harry George and Velma Truett formed the Truett-George " Trujo" banjo company in 1926, and the instruments themselves were built by Gibson in Kalamazoo. The whole history is fascinating, and you should be able to find it if you search " Trujo" over at banjo hangout (while you're at it, you might go to youtube and listen to Truett & George's song, Ghost Dance). As you can see in the pictures, this banjo is still fully playable, and it is in VG+ cosmetic condition. The neck is straight, with just the right amount of relief for low action and great playability. I love the engraved gold Grover planetary tuners with genuine solid mother-of-pearl buttons! I also admire the engraved gold resonator flange and tension ring. The Grover clamshell tailpiece is also very nice. What is the deal with metal structure inside the body? Venturi? Tone enhancer? It's shaped like the core of a torus! Did Gibson put any of those in their own banjos? I think it must be doing something useful, because the sound of this banjo is loud without being strident! What are the bad bits? the fingerboard is missing a little over half of the binding on the treble side, and it is missing the binding near the last three frets on the bass side. The unusual concave pearloid resonator is starting to curl up at its outside edge in a few places. There is a couple tape residue spots on the treble side of the neck heel. Lastly, the original hardshell case has one repaired hinge. Do not hesitate to ask questions about this instrument. I will be out of town for a long weekend, but I will try to keep in touch for communications. If this banjo sells quickly, I will ship on Friday. Otherwise, the earliest I can ship will be this coming Wednesday. Still available at ListedBuy!
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