041 – Style 5 Dobson Special Banjo
This banjo is the first of my Style 5 Dobson Specials. It has Style 5 inlay details with a Dobson tone ring sitting atop a rolled brass tone ring to isolate it from the wooden rim. This creates the unique Dobson tone but adds an even deeper more balanced low end while keeping a nice crisp well rounded sound. This banjo is owned by the talented Carling Berkhout and can be heard on her Instagram feed.
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 5/16″ Bone Nut
- 12″ Walnut Rim with Black Lacquer
- Dobson Special Tone Ring
- Engraved Fairbanks Mother of Pearl Peghead Inlay
- Striped Ebony Fingerboard and Peghead
- Walnut Neck
- Ivoroid Rim Binding
- Cole Boat Heel
- Antiqued Brass Hardware
- Published in Banjos
Henry Dobson Reproduction Neck
This Dobson was a very unique project. The owner purchased the original banjo on eBay and when it showed up it turned out to be a little more beat up than anticipated. Wanting a Dobson that would be a durable everyday player we decided to recreate the neck with just a few minor modern upgrades. I tried to keep as close to the original aesthetic as possible while giving it a thicker fingerboard, neck profile and fifth string transition. While the finish was far from original, it had such a cool look to it that I did my best to match the feel. I was able to save the original dowel stick with Henry Dobson’s ID stamps which was an extra bonus. The textured rim is fairly unique as well, I believe they were made for a short time by Buckbee for use on these Dobson models as well as some of the Celebrated Benary banjos of the same time.
- 11″ Original Henry Textured Dobson Clad Rim with Patented Dobson Tone Ring
- 6th fret 5th String transistion
- Dyed skin head
- Peghed Tuners
- Nickel Silver Inlays
- Madagascar Rosewood Fingerboard and Peghead Overlay
- Walnut Neck
- Hand Rubbed Oil Finish
- Brass Scoop Plate
- Published in Banjos, Restorations
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