Are Silvertone banjos good?

Yup, Silvertone instruments were decent for the money, as starters, but not something worth putting a lot of “Improvement Money” into. If nothing else, you can learn how to take a part and re-assemble a banjo.

Who made Silvertone banjos?

Silvertone is a brand created and promoted by Sears for its line of consumer electronics and musical instruments from 1916 to 1972. The rights to the Silvertone brand were purchased by South Korean corporation Samick Music in 2001.

How can I tell how old my banjo is?

Determining if the neck is reinforced with steel or not could indicate the age, since necks without steel reinforcement tend to be far older. Other key features which might indicate the age would be the tuners, the peg head, the nut, the resonator, and the number of strings.

What is an old banjo worth?

It will pay off in terms of quality and resale value. On average, a banjo is going to cost anywhere between $50 – $3,000.

Are old Silvertone guitars good?

If the Silvertone lacks vintage authenticity, it’s capable of producing a very broad range of really nice sounds, and you could make it your main—or only—stage guitar just as readily as, say, a favorite Telecaster or Les Paul Jr. For just around five hundred bucks, that’s a pretty decent return on your investment.

Why use a capo on a banjo?

Vocalists might need to sing in a “key” that is more “comfortable” or “appropriate” for their voice. By using a device called a capo, a banjo player can raise the first four strings of the banjo to change the “key” or the “foundation” of the song to “A”, for example, instead of “G”.

What is the history of the banjo?

The evolution of the modern banjo is an interesting story in itself. The earliest known prototypes appeared around the seventeenth century in the Caribbean region and showed striking resemblances to western stringed instruments in the form of fingerboards and tuning pegs.

What is a Silvertone phonograph?

In 1915, Sears introduced the Silvertone phonograph, a hand-cranked machine that came in tabletop and freestanding models. All phonographs came with a two-week, money-back guarantee.

Are there any instruments with strings stretched out like the banjo?

There is evidence even more recent evidence of drum-like instruments with strings stretched out over it in many West-African cultures including the ngoni and the xalam. Both of these instruments bear a hide covered drum and stings and bear resemblance the the modern banjo.

What is the history of the Silvertone guitar?

Struggling blues musicians of the 1940s and 1950s first popularized the Silvertone guitar, with legends such as Muddy Waters and Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup among those who played Silvertones. The Sears Silvertone guitar really made its mark in music history as the unofficial “first guitar” of guitar’s icons.