DM's Beatles forums

Other forums => Selling, Buying, Exchanging => Topic started by: briangg57 on January 27, 2009, 04:09:44 PM

Title: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on January 27, 2009, 04:09:44 PM
Look what I found at a "GoodWill" store. I'm going to sell it but I'm not sure to who yet. 2 auction houses are interested. It cost me a small fortune though, I had to shell out 4 big ones for it, yep, 4 washingtons lol. feel free to make an offer. Oh yea, the thing that looks like chewing gum on it, is just a small rope that someone tied as a strap. I took it off.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/banjo-1.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/banjo-06.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/banjo-03.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/banjo-3.jpg)
and now the bad news :'(
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/banjo-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 01, 2009, 02:08:10 PM
what a splendid find...you are quite lucky and obviously not a fan...a fan would never sell it..only a braggart would...
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 01, 2009, 03:12:32 PM
Quote from: 284
what a spedid find...you are quite lucky and obviously not a fan...a fan would never sell it..only a braggart would...
Go blow it out your yellow submarine. LOL. You don't know what you're talking about. I love the Beatles although IMO John was by FAR the best. I didn't like Wings AT ALL. I just personally can't understand why someone would pay so much money for a piece of plastic with a picture on it that the Beatles never signed or even touched for that matter. But I guess, to each their own. By the way, I just drew a picture of the Beatles, I'll let you have it for the amazingly low price of $99.99. IMO it's the same concept.

Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 01, 2009, 06:23:59 PM
sold......nevermind...you ought to place that in a shrine..i'll let you build one here...but if you do intend to sell it see it the strings are original...and save the gum for a d n a test...it could have been johns....you can put it on ebay and set a reserve but price check and see what it is drawing for bids....yours is chipped so it isn't perfect...but thanks 4 sharing the pics too....i will research it a bit 4 u..
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 01, 2009, 06:32:54 PM
string check...(http://www.fincharie.com/Beatles%20Pages/Images/Miscellaneous%20Images/Banjo2.jpg)
(http://www.fincharie.com/Beatles%20Pages/Images/Miscellaneous%20Images/Banjo4.jpg)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 01, 2009, 06:39:06 PM
http://www.beatlescollecting.com/the-beatles/forums/memorabilia-and-collectables/20090123172740727875.html no luck for you here brian??
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 01, 2009, 06:45:02 PM
someone a flikr has one...http://flickr.com/photos/28285678@N00/2570521025http://www.mybeatles.net/imagesmem/banjo_mastro.html no luck here huh?
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 01, 2009, 06:46:02 PM
here did you see this one???http://www.fincharie.com/beatles%20pages/miscellaneous/BeatlesToysandGames.htm
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 01, 2009, 06:47:35 PM
(http://www.fincharie.com/Beatles%20Pages/Images/Miscellaneous%20Images/Bongos2.jpg)(http://www.fincharie.com/Beatles%20Pages/Images/Miscellaneous%20Images/JGUIT01.jpg)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 01, 2009, 10:36:38 PM
Quote from: 284
sold......nevermind...you ought to place that in a shrine..i'll let you build one here...but if you do intend to sell it see it the strings are original...and save the gum for a d n a test...it could have been johns....you can put it on ebay and set a reserve but price check and see what it is drawing for bids....yours is chipped so it isn't perfect...but thanks 4 sharing the pics too....i will research it a bit 4 u..
Yes the strings are original, I saw one that sold on ebay in 2003 for $4,995.00 It didn't have the original strings. Also that one just had the word Mastro on the headstock where mine has a likeness of the Beatles. The auction house said they made 2 models and mine is more rare. He said that the extras that mine has will help offset the chip in the back of mine. I wish that was Johns gum instead of a piece of rope.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 01, 2009, 10:50:28 PM
"pc31" The pic. you posted http://flickr.com/photos/28285678@N00/2570521025 is the one that sold in 2003 on ebay for almost $5000.00 Notice the word Mastro on the headstock by the tuners as mine has a pic. of the Beatles. Also check out the strings on that one. A couple has been replaced with clear fishing line. Also that one came with a box but it is not a box for the Beatles version, it was for the regular banjo and there for didn't add to the value.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 02, 2009, 11:53:19 AM
the box is part of the value b-man...things sell 4 more in the original package...one box was triangular and one was retangular...
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 05, 2009, 12:52:36 PM
Quote from: 284
someone a flikr has one...[url]http://flickr.com/photos/28285678@N00/2570521025http://www.mybeatles.net/imagesmem/banjo_mastro.html[/url] no luck here huh?


Here is where I have a problem. Did mastro REALLY!! make 2 models. If you look at mine, it is red and has the pic. of the Beatles not only on the face but also at the top on the headstock by the tuners. The regular banjo has a black neck and backplate and only has the word mastro banjo on the headstock Upon close inspection of both, the Beatles banjo that I have and the regular Mastro banjo that I also have, I can see that the parts are DEFINITELY interchangeable. I really don't think Mastro made 2 versions. I would really like to see some documentation as such. I can easily change the face on the banjos and not have a chip in the back of mine, or I could just change the backplate but it would be black. I'm REALLY WONDERING if the guy that bought the $4,995.00 in 2002, didn't get ripped off. And as far as the box goes, They state that it is only a vintage mastro banjo box and probably not the box that the beatles one came in. After researching this to the best of my ability, I have found other types of banjos that they sold, such as cowboy banjos ect. In every instance they had the theme of the banjo on the box. I can't imagine why they wouldn't have the Beatles theme on the box. In fact the box that went with the $4,995.00 banjo, has the same picture of a man and women dancing as what's on the regular Mastro banjo.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 05, 2009, 01:50:02 PM
the beatles didn't lend their name to to many offical products....the company made them from 64 to 66...maybe the earlier ones were just basic and as it gained sales they made it more elaberated...
this book could add value too....
(http://www.beatlebay.com/images/banjobooklet_small.jpg)
the box was probally not a beatles themed box...brian epstien was always careful not to let them be linked to lastable memoribilia...he liked to renew things like that because more money was involved each time...he did screw up with the cartoon leasing rights...he sold them for too many years...i think they had a 10 year deal on the cartoon beatles...but regressing back to the banjo....to research further we have to look at the company that made them....are the still in business???http://www.banjoukes.com/Plastic/Plastic.html
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 05, 2009, 01:53:21 PM
Mario Maccaferri is considered the "father" of the plastic uke and banjo uke. His company, Mastro Industries, which was located in New York City, started producing them in the late 1940s. In 1969 Maccaferri sold his business to another major manufacturer, Carnival Toys of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
marios story here...http://www.lutherie.net/mario_en.html
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 05, 2009, 02:01:43 PM
http://www.djangobooks.com/archives/2005/12/28/mario_maccaferri_plays_classical_guitar_pt2.html
from the 1964 section...Introducing the Beatles...

The last notice of Maccaferri
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 05, 2009, 02:06:04 PM
so yes there were two versions.....
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 05, 2009, 02:15:57 PM
http://www.luth.org/memoriam/m-maccaferri.htm
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 05, 2009, 02:44:13 PM
Quote from: 284
the beatles didn't lend their name to to many offical products....the company made them from 64 to 66...maybe the earlier ones were just basic and as it gained sales they made it more elaberated...
this book could add value too....
([url]http://www.beatlebay.com/images/banjobooklet_small.jpg[/url])
the box was probally not a beatles themed box...brian epstien was always careful not to let them be linked to lastable memoribilia...he liked to renew things like that because more money was involved each time...he did screw up with the cartoon leasing rights...he sold them for too many years...i think they had a 10 year deal on the cartoon beatles...but regressing back to the banjo....to research further we have to look at the company that made them....are the still in business???http://www.banjoukes.com/Plastic/Plastic.html


I agree that you MAY BE RIGHT about the early Beatles banjos being plain and the boxes and bodies used could be the same ones they used for the regular banjos but I wish that there was a way to find out for sure. If you look at your post about the info of the Beatles products, you will see that every other instrument was produced in Beatle Red and Beatle orange. I think it unlikely that they used exactly the same body and box as the plain banjo for something meant to be special and boost sales. If you ever come across a site that proves either way, please E-MAIL me at briguert57@comcast.net Thankyou, Brian
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 05, 2009, 03:43:27 PM
Also If you look at the boxes for the other instruments, you will see that they did use the image of the Beatles on the box. I hope you're not the one that bought that banjo. It has to be a mixed matched.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 05, 2009, 03:56:10 PM
Quote from: 284
someone a flikr has one...[url]http://flickr.com/photos/28285678@N00/2570521025http://www.mybeatles.net/imagesmem/banjo_mastro.html[/url] no luck here huh?

neither of the boxes have the beatles image...i am telling you epstien was very particular in his leasing agreements...there were very few products that carried an endorsement from the beatles to produce legal products....no i'm not the buyer.....i wish i had one....i would sell it... ;)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 05, 2009, 04:01:12 PM
maybe this guy got it....(http://www.beatlebay.com/images/AAA/GroupShot1.jpg)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 05, 2009, 04:04:14 PM
http://www.beatlebay.com/images/Banjowbooklet.jpg
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 05, 2009, 08:13:16 PM
 I'm sorry, but if you click on this and scroll down just a bit, you will see the the Beatles are all over the Boxes. http://www.eskimo.com/~bpentium/beatles/bongos.html - The last picture you sent, does have the Beatles image on the headstock like mine and the neck looks brownish red, not a good pic of the banjo. You can hardly make out the pic. of them on the headstock. And if you look at my first picture in this post, you will see that my lighting wasn't good either. You can't even tell that my banjo is red until I turned it sideways in my 3rd or forth picture. compare that last picture you posted with my first and second one. That banjo you just posted is red.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 06, 2009, 04:14:42 AM
i meant the banjo boxes don't have them onit...
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 26, 2009, 02:47:13 PM
I cleaned her up and she looks great. I'm going to try to post a pic. if it works I'll add more. I'm pretty sure I'll be listing it on E-BAY in the next couple of days.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatledebsbanjo-8.jpg)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 26, 2009, 03:09:27 PM
OK, IT WORKED. As you may know, I got this 1964 Mastro Beatles banjo and it has a small chip in the back plate, so I bought a regular Mastro banjo and had the backplate painted at the car body shop. When I sell my banjo, I'm going to include the regular Mastro banjo because all the gold trim and the newly painted back plate are an EXACT same part and if someone drops the original Beatles banjo and breaks the gold trim, you can swap it out for the spare part in less than 5 min. also If they want a perfect backplate instead of the chipped original, that takes 1 min. to swap. It snaps on and off exactly like a tupperware container lid. Here are some pics. 1st is a poor pic. of both banjos. The lighting isn't the best.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatlesbanjo-09.jpg)
this is the regular Mastro banjo that I'm going to include for spare parts. All the trim is EXACTLY the SAME.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatlesbanjo-08.jpg)
next is the original chipped backplate and the newly painted one from the regular banjo.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatlesbanjo-03.jpg)
this is the Beatles banjo with the chipped back.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatlesbanjo-04.jpg)
this is the Banjo with the newly painted backplate on it.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatlesbanjo-05.jpg)
again, pic with me pointing to chip on original backplate.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatlesbanjo-13.jpg)
this is the newly painted backplate.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatlesbanjo-06.jpg)
this is a small ding that isn't visible when the bridge is in place, I found it when I took it apart for cleaning.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatledebsbanjo-2.jpg)
this is the face after cleaning
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatledebsbanjo-1.jpg)
this is the headstock after cleaning.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/beatlesbanjo-12.jpg)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on February 27, 2009, 03:45:11 PM
it looks great B....someone will be very happy.....i don't think that anyone would be sure that back plates was changed....
repair work with original parts can't be termed repair can they?just putting it back to original...
you might get a lower price if you included all that history of the rope,gum and back plate...you don't have to disclose everything..it's not lying...
good luck with the auction...i hope you make a million on it..lol set a reserve tho...that way you can get what you want...
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on February 27, 2009, 04:37:34 PM
Quote from: 284
it looks great B....someone will be very happy.....i don't think that anyone would be sure that back plates was changed....
repair work with original parts can't be termed repair can they?just putting it back to original...
you might get a lower price if you included all that history of the rope,gum and back plate...you don't have to disclose everything..it's not lying...
good luck with the auction...i hope you make a million on it..lol set a reserve tho...that way you can get what you want...
..................................................................................................................................................................
Thanks alot, I just listed it a few min. ago. I feel bad because some really nice guy from CA. contacted me and offered my fiance $2,500.00 for it. He wanted it real bad. I explained that money was real tight for us and I had to take a chance to see what I could get for it. I told him I wouldn't list it if he offered $3,000.00 but he couldn't do it. He's a real collector and sent a pic of his super nice collection. If we weren't so broke, Deb would have sold it to him.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on March 01, 2009, 12:54:25 AM
For 3 more days :) Moderators, PLEASE don't put this at the end of my other post because everyone already read that and is not going to read it again. Thankyou, Brian. I SAID PLEASE!!!! LOL
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: BlueMeanie on March 01, 2009, 01:38:55 AM
Quote from: 1882
For 3 more days :) Moderators, PLEASE don't put this at the end of my other post because everyone already read that and is not going to read it again. Thankyou, Brian. I SAID PLEASE!!!! LOL

Sorry, but two threads about your Beatles banjo is one too many. And seeing as I just had to delete the same thread from 3 other forums here, don't expect my tolerance to be high.

Of course, the smart thing would be to post a link to the auction on ebay. :-/
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on March 01, 2009, 02:45:39 AM
This is and old post and nobody is going to read it again. Why is it that other people have posted about Beatles things for sale on E-Bay and I can't. My topic is not the same. Can't you at least let me list it in the selling forum? Isn't that what it's for??
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: BlueMeanie on March 01, 2009, 02:51:21 AM
To be perfectly honest, you've been posting about your banjo for a while, and really only got one person interested in it. I don't think another thread is going to help.

As a warning to you, if you post another thread about it, I will delete it. One is enough. I've spent enough time tonight on your threads.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: briangg57 on March 01, 2009, 02:59:29 AM
Quote from: 483
To be perfectly honest, you've been posting about your banjo for a while, and really only got one person interested in it. I don't think another thread is going to help.

As a warning to you, if you post another thread about it, I will delete it. One is enough. I've spent enough time tonight on your threads.
you're a total a**hole screw you and your site to
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: BlueMeanie on March 01, 2009, 03:04:24 AM
Goodbye then. I shall miss our little chats, but we'll soldier on.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on March 01, 2009, 02:38:56 PM
Quote from: 483
To be perfectly honest, you've been posting about your banjo for a while, and really only got one person interested in it. I don't think another thread is going to help.

As a warning to you, if you post another thread about it, I will delete it. One is enough. I've spent enough time tonight on your threads.
you consider me a people??you and bobber have been red-necking around the 4ums for a few months now...you are being kind of overly critical in a few instances...but i saw a few times it was needed as well as a few times i thought it was pushy...try not to be overts...if you can help it...i am sure either one of you would have been glad to ban me permenately at one time or another...
so try a little kindness...i do love your cynicisms tho...lol
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: BlueMeanie on March 01, 2009, 07:15:36 PM
Marshall, with respect, you weren't online last night when this guy wasted a hour of my time. First of all his way of telling us that he'd put it on ebay was to start 4 identical threads in 4 different forums. I deleted 3 of them, and merged the other one with this thread. Fair enough? I couldn't see the need for a separate thread for his auction. This one has been going for a month, and so far has attracted only your interest. I thought that 2 threads about one man's Beatles banjo was one too many, when he's clearly only on here to sell it, and not interested in the rest of the forums.

I explain this to him, he starts another thread complaining about it. He sends me a PM complaining about it. I explain to him again, and ask him not to do it. He throws his toys out of the pram and gets insulting. The End.

Of course Bobber and I, and the rest could always stop moderating for a couple of weeks and watch the forum degenerate into chaos. Your choice.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on March 01, 2009, 07:25:31 PM
i know what has been going on....i know he went overboard and cares nothing about the forum...i know the necessity of order also...and ask you forgive my butting in...just consider what i said...
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: BlueMeanie on March 01, 2009, 07:37:22 PM
I forgive your 'butting in', he's welcome to post his ebay auction on this thread, without getting insulting. He's correct when he says there's only 2 rules for posting. But as I pointed out to him, there's also common sense. And one of the rules is: no personal insults.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: Bobber on March 02, 2009, 08:46:14 AM
Quote from: 284
you consider me a people??you and bobber have been red-necking around the 4ums for a few months now...you are being kind of overly critical in a few intances...but i saw a few times it was needed as well as a few times i thought it was pushy...try not to be overts...if you can help it...i am sure either one of you would have been glad to ban me permenately at one time or another...
so try a little kindness...i do love your cynicisms tho...lol

Anyone else having problems with the way these boards are adminned and modded? Oh, wait, I know someone.  We're kind whenever we can, because we ARE kind. I personally don't feel I'm rednecking in here, but if I am, so be it. I will have another look at my soft side tho. I'll give the kids an extra hug tonight. Now, are you behaving like a Sun King?  :)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on March 02, 2009, 11:39:07 AM
ok...i backed off a little...i was raised by superman...he drilled into me truth,justice and the american way...
i was only try to show i read alot..... :) i was reading your bit with jt and thought it was sort of harsh...i ambled on to the banjo topic and thought wow what is going on...but biff told me the guy made several topics about just the banjo...i know he is on 24-7 so i agreed he done right pa......i am just saying consider the source sometimes...you know i gripe about any floggings...be they served or deserved...
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: BlueMeanie on March 03, 2009, 10:49:55 AM
Biff? I like that!
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: pc31 on March 03, 2009, 11:56:38 AM
i had to make it sound red-necky..... ;D
you guys don't need to take anything i say at all personally..i am quite fond of both of you...true intellect is so hard to find here...and i appreciate the fact you 2 have it...in droves.... ;)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: Sondra on March 05, 2009, 12:48:16 AM
What the hell is red necking??
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: alexis on March 05, 2009, 01:04:33 AM
Quote from: 216
What the hell is red necking??

You know, hickeys in the flat bed a pick up truck under the stars* (originally, in a car on blocks in the front yard).

*I guess Clarabella might have been one of the early redneckers - "... All she needs are the stars up above"!!
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: Penny Lane on March 05, 2009, 08:11:22 AM
The way this board is manned is not bad at all.  I've seen different boards where the mods can be very critical and/or strict, so being here is a breath of fresh air. :)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: JimmyMcCullochFan on March 05, 2009, 10:41:38 AM
^ Agreed  :)
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: Swine on March 06, 2009, 03:41:03 PM
fresh air eh? grunt.
Title: Re: Beatles Banjo
Post by: Jane on March 07, 2009, 10:13:34 PM
Let me say something...I also believe that you should be a bit kinder and more liberal. After all, Liberty and Freedom are the main words of American Democracy as stated by the Founding Fathers. Just a bit and everything will be perfect. My respect.