{"product_id":"a-a-farland-concert-grand-open-back-banjo-maple-c-1905-used","title":"A. A. Farland Concert Grand Open Back Banjo, Maple (c. 1905)  [USED]","description":"\u003cp\u003eDating to approximately 1905, this A. A. Farland Concert Grand Open Back Banjo was built by Rettberg and Lange in New York and is in very good, fully playable condition.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis wonderful piece is designed for use with gut or nylon strings only\u003c\/strong\u003e;  Farland was famously not in favour of steel strings. This banjo also includes as a 1920's retrofit, an Elton spun-aluminum 'pie-pan' tone reflector with single post mount.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTypical of higher end instruments of the time, the heel carries a Foliate carving on both sides.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese A. A. Farland banjos are rare, though there are no sources for production records.  Farland developed key parts of the banjo design, particularly the beveled wooden tone ring, and held patents for several hardware items including the tailpiece, a reflector design (this banjo comes with a 1920's 3rd party reflector), and a mute system.  He also specified the inlays used on these banjos.  The actual work was executed under contract by companies including J. H. Buckbee and then Rettberg and Lange.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA company motto,  seen in their catalogs, is \"Louder than a Piano, Sweeter than a Harp\"!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSold with a new Crossrock tweed archtop case, containing information on the banjo and A A Farland. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was a high-end banjo in 1905 and the Farland catalog listed the Concert Grand model at $50 - in current dollars $1,940 USD or 2,680 CAD - and at that time, an average skilled worker might earn $600 - $800 USD per year with a 54 to 60 hour week. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout A. A. Farland\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA. A. Farland (Alfred Adolphus Farland) is best known as a premier classical style banjo virtuoso working from 1884 to 1939 and dying in 1954 at 90. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn during 1864 in Lachine, Canada East (which became Lachine, Quebec after Confederation in 1867), he was the youngest of 9 children.  In 1865 the family moved to Rhode Island for work in the fabric industry.  He started taking banjo lessons at age 13, and at 14 he took work as a weaver in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Within five years he became a professional musician, touring in concert groups and and teaching many students.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMaterials and Construction\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the A. A. Farland Concert Grand open back banjo is made for gut or nylon strings, it uses just a few woods - primarily Maple and Ebony.  The rim is Birdseye Maple, the neck has Curly figuring.  There is no metal tone ring; instead, Farland specified a beveled edge on the maple rim to preserve a rich, warm classical banjo tone without the harsh brittleness of a metal tone ring.  The rim cap, dowel stick key,  fingerboard and head plate are Ebony.  The Fleur-de-Lis inlays are Mother of Pearl with a small amount of Abalone.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metal head bracket is held in place by 25 tension hooks.   The tailpiece is stamped AAF, and is a Farland design.   The tuners are Grover 'Champion' friction models with black Bakelite buttons.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finish is the original light clear spirit varnish,  turned amber with age and exposure to light but otherwise in very good condition.  There is little fret wear except to the first fret.   The fret wire used on this banjo is an early bead and tang type, distinct from the 'bar' style used on some models by Martin as late as 1938. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; height: 94.5938px;\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 26.1993%; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e \u003cimg style=\"float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2091\/5497\/files\/No-Refunds-No-Returns-On-Used-or-Consignment-Items-TheTweflthFret.jpg?v=1717033061\" alt=\"No Returns or Refunds on Used or Consignments - The Twelfth Fret\"\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 73.4317%; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThere are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.12fret.com\/the-twelfth-fret-terms-and-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eView Our Full Terms Here\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eDETAILS\u003c\/span\u003e: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Model:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Concert Grand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e  A,. A. Farland by Rettberg and Lange\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument year:\u003c\/strong\u003e   c. 1905, precise dating impossible\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Finish:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Varnish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Class:\u003c\/strong\u003e  5-String Open Back Nylon String Banjos\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument serial number:\u003c\/strong\u003e   N\/A, features date to approximately 1905.  Built under contract to Farland by Rettberg \u0026amp; Lange in NYC.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry of Origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e  USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.12fret.com\/pages\/the-twelfth-fret-used-instrument-and-amplifier-rating-guide\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eInstrument Condition\u003c\/a\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Very Good\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRight-handed\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Weight Imperial:\u003c\/strong\u003e   5.016 lbs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Weight Metric:\u003c\/strong\u003e   2.28 kgs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScale Length Imperial:\u003c\/strong\u003e    26.22 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScale Length Metric:\u003c\/strong\u003e    666 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNut Width Imperial:\u003c\/strong\u003e  \u003cspan\u003e  1.288 in\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNut Width Metric:\u003c\/strong\u003e  32.72 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCITIES Documentation Required:\u003c\/strong\u003e  No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase included:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase original:\u003c\/strong\u003e  No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eItems in Case:\u003c\/strong\u003e Info on A. A. Farland \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e New Hard Shell Arched Top Tweed Crossrock case\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConsignment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProduct ID:\u003c\/strong\u003e 191030\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; height: 94.5938px;\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 26.1993%; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e \u003cimg style=\"float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2091\/5497\/files\/No-Refunds-No-Returns-On-Used-or-Consignment-Items-TheTweflthFret.jpg?v=1717033061\" alt=\"No Returns or Refunds on Used or Consignments - The Twelfth Fret\"\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 73.4317%; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThere are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.12fret.com\/the-twelfth-fret-terms-and-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eView Our Full Terms Here\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A. A. Farland","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49031827095801,"sku":"A. A Farland Concert Grand banjo","price":2800.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2091\/5497\/files\/aa-farland-concertgrand-ob-banjo-nat-1905-cons-full-front.jpg?v=1788987029","url":"https:\/\/shop.12fret.com\/products\/a-a-farland-concert-grand-open-back-banjo-maple-c-1905-used","provider":"The Twelfth Fret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}