Here is a lovely Deering Calico Blonde 5-String banjo, built in Lemon Grove California, just before Deering Moved to Spring Valley.

Deering started business as a banjo company in 1974, working from a shop in Lemon Grove, California. By 2001, the business had grown and new premises were opened just a few miles east in Spring Valley.

This Deering Calico Blonde banjo was built in May 2001, just before the move. It is in overall good condition with light wear to the poly finish and frets. As usual, the nickel plating on the arm-rest shows signs of wear from use.

The core of the Deering Calico Blonde, like other Calicos, is a figured Maple neck and pot. The fingerboard is Ebony, and the inlays are Mother of Pearl, with some engraving. Various finishes are available, with dark tints and Sunburst being popular.

You can read our original feature on the Deering Calico banjo here.

Here’s the builder on the Deering Calico Blonde and the other Calico versions:

” The Deering Calico is a premium quality world class 5-string banjo that is appreciated for its crisp tone with great highs and distinctive bass response. The Calico is not only beautiful, but it is also exceptionally dynamic with both powerful sound and response providing an excellent tool for all styles of music. At this price point we add two features, we taper the inside of the resonator walls for added projection of tone, and we also add the feature of glued-in frets. Each fret is fitted to the fingerboard and glued in place so that in the future when the frets are worn out, they can easily be replaced without chipping the fingerboard. You will gain these benefits on every model from the Calico on up the line.

The heart of the Deering Calico banjo is the Deering bronze tone-ring, precisely fitted to the three ply maple rim. The Deering -06- tone ring produces a beautiful, balanced overtone spectrum. Its weight is ideal for most styles played on the banjo. A softer touch will provide you with as much sustain as you ever want, a sharper attack will produce a distinct pop and accurate note separation. You will notice no dead spots over the entire fingerboard. The beautiful highs and powerful well rounded bass is the result of intense study of alloys and shapes resulting in superb sound.”

This Deering Calico Blonde is sold with its original hard shell case.

Deering Calico Blonde Current Specifications: