Brand: Anonymous
Instrument Categories: Banjos, SOLD
The originals of the Whyte Laydie style banjos were made by the Fairbanks company around the turn of the 20th century, with a particular type of tone ring. The Whyte Laydie tone ring is a scalloped brass ring with a steel tone hoop, which provides higher volume, sustain and ‘ringing’ tone.
A C Fairbanks was a large musical instrument manufacturer in Boston, but in 1904 suffered a devastating workshop fire, for which they were under insured. The remnants of the company were then sold to the Vega company and rights to several patents for $926, and the understanding that the Fairbanks workers would be employed by Vega.
Instrument building is a popular activity, and so from time to time we run across instruments we can’t solidly determine a builder, date, or even location for its creation. This is one example of these instruments that stand on their own.
This Whyte Laydie style banjo was built by an unknown person, we believe during the 1980s in Toronto and may have been first sold at Ring Music on Harbord Street.
The Maple neck with Ebony fingerboard is hand made, while the Maple pot, Whyte Laydie ring and hardware were sourced from Stewart-McDonald as Five Star banjo parts. The neck also has an Ebony backstrap, and uses an inlay set recalling the 1905 Fairbanks Whyte Laydie.
This Whyte Laydie Style banjo plays well, and is well built using high quality hardware.
A hard shell case is included.
- Model: Whyte Laydie
- Year: 1985 | Approximate year
- Finish Natural
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: N/A
- Country of Origin: USA / Canada
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 25/09/2019
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Instrument Weight: 7.8lbs 3,55kg
- Scale Length: 26in 660.4mm
- Nut Width: 1.26in 32mm
