Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.

Subject: Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 11:07 AM

A friend just purchased an Orpheum Tenor banjo for $100. (I'm never in the right place at the right time). It is in perfect condition, all original with case etc. Markings on the peg head indicate a #3 special.    It has a lot of fancy inlay, pearl etc. I did find a homepage:

http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/aprilskies/264/paramoun

Any idea about what this banjo may be worth or other information about this make of banjo. Can't seem to find any for sale on the internet. I doubt it he would sell although he has been looking for a Gibson 5 string.
I do have the honor of setting it up and playing it for a while.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 12:52 PM

For a start you know that it was worth about $100 to the one who sold it to your friend.

If the one who sold it can be expected to be "reasonably informed" that's not likely to be too far off what your friend's local market sees for a value. If it was dumped at a yard sale it might not be too reliable though. The urban myths about "vengeful wives" mostly are myths, but "unknowing widows" have been known to have been found rarely.

Is there a reliable dealer nearby who could give a valuation?

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.
From: BanjoRay
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 04:39 PM

If I were you I'd try the Banjo-L mailing list, or the Banjo Hangout. Both are sources of more information about banjos than you'll ever want to know.
It'll be worth a LOT more than he paid for it if your description's accurate.
Ray

Subject: RE: Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.
From: GUEST,Songster Bob
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 10:02 PM

In eBay completed items is one Orpheum #3, which sold for $685. This is probably slightly under what a collector might pay for it, since the serious collector wants to see and check out the instrument before buying. Being able to try before buying is one reason eBay is typically under what collectors will pay, at least for antique instruments.

So say $700-750 would be a good ballpark figure. Perhaps more, if you find the right buyer. But not less than $650 as a valuation (or, for insurance purposes, $10,000).

To see the eBay item, click here!

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 05:43 PM

Thanks for the eBay link Bob. That appears to be the banjo with the exception that on the peg head it does have the word Special after the #3. I'll be able to make a better comparison when I set it up. He bought it at a bluegrass gathering where there would be little interest in a tenor banjo.

I play an old Vega (low end) tenor that has a bit more ring than for the type of music I play. In the eBay description this banjo appears to have a more mellow sound. Perhaps I can borrow it on occasion.

Banjo Ray ~ I'm headed for the two site you mentioned...

Subject: RE: Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.
From: Songster Bob
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 09:23 PM

I had an Orpheum shell that I made a 5-string neck for, and it was a pretty nice banjo. Not, as many tenors are, ice-pick-in-the-ears sharp, but not so plunky you'd think it had a hide head. I sold it back in the 70s for $350 or so (a decent price in those days for a conversion job that didn't attempt to copy the original peghead, etc.).

There is a recognizable tembre to Orpheum tenors, a fullness and sharpness combined. I like 'em; some tenor players don't. Your Vega is probably a Little Wonder, from your description, so the Orpheum is probably sharper, maybe more treble-edged in tone, than your Vega.

Is this one resonated? It probably will sound even sharper and louder if it does.

I have only one tenor among all my banjos (seven 5-strings and a guitar-banjo, at last count -- and one banjo-uke and one mandolin-banjo). My tenor is an odd one, a neck that doesn't match the shell, which itself may have been an 1880s five-string at its inception.

Have fun with the Orpheum. They're an acquired taste among tenors, but can be nice.


Bob

Subject: RE: Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 12:00 AM

This Orpheum is open backed model so I doubt if it will project all that well.

The vega I have has a resonator and projects quite well. Sometimes I would prefer a more mellow sound for folk music. I do play a lot of rag time era music so it would be nice to have two tenors.

I have a long necked Vega 5 string (Pete Seeger model) open backed but plenty of volume.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Tech: Orpheum tenor banjo info.
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 09:12 PM

Surprise ~ My friend brought the Orpheum banjo over today. I started tuning the thing and promptly broke the first string. Thought it looked a bit big for a tenor so I compared it to my tenor and the neck was somewhat longer ~ 22 frets to be exact. Seems the banjo is a plectrum rather than a tenor. Actually this was the first one I'd ever had in my hands so I looked up the tuning and found it was tuned the same way as C tuning on the 5 string banjo. A whole new ball of wax. The peg head inlays were a bit more fancy than on the regular tenor.
    Seems the plectrum banjo's ranged a bit in size from 22 to 26 frets. The earlier ones tended to have the lower number.   

Cap't Bob