This banjo is an unusual size, even for S.S. Stewart as it has 13.5 inch neck with a 10.5 inch rim with a 20.5 inch scale length.

The overhanging fingeboard and 20 inch scale length classifies it as a banjeaurine, as per Mr. Stewart. His original banjeaurine was a 10 inch piccolo neck with a large 12.5 inch rim.

These proved difficult to tune and he gradually made additional modified versions of the original "Imperial Banjeaurine" with smaller rims and different size necks.

One of the latest modified versions now had 14 inch necks and 10 inch rims, which he called the "Banjo-Banjeaurine", not to be confounded with the "Imperial Banjeaurine", or the "Solo Banjeaurine"!

Eventually, other manufacturers such as Fairbanks, Washburn, Weymann and others made their own versions, which irked Swaim Stewart to no end. Some versions adopted a modified name as well, such as "Banjorine", along with different proportions.

I have used a vintage 1920's 10.5 inch Vega rim, made for Jos. Pacheco for his Platophone for this rim. The tone ring is a very similar version of Vega's Little Wonder and later styles with wrapped tone rings with the addition of the Platophone disc.

This disc I have removed as it blocks the sound dramatically. Otherwise, the hardware is nearly all original, with Vega ball end nuts and Vega neck brace, and original Vega armrest.

The neck I have carved to fit an original vintage heavy ebony fingerboard that belonged to a vintage pre-1900 Banjeaurine of unknown origin. The neck length is 13.5 and the scale length is 20.5 inches. The fingerboard overhangs only slightly.

The neck is particularly heavy and fine black walnut and is french polished. The headstock inlay is a Vega style flower pot to honor the origins of the original banjo rim. Headstock and heel overlay are fine ebony.

This banjo is a small banjo but with a huge Vega sound. The elevated fingerboard allows higher spacing under the strings and greatly facilitates playing clawhammer style.

The string are Nylgut and all five tuners are geared with antiqued ivoroid buttons. The nut and pip are both bone and inlays are of pearl and abalone. The tailpiece is a reproduction and the head is fine calfskin.

This Banjorine is smaller than a Small Ladies(16 inch neck,9 inch rim) but bigger than a Pony(12" neck, 8 inch rim). It similar in size to a small Irish Tenor Banjo.

With Hard Shell Case....$2800. You can email me here if your are interested in this banjo. You can also purchase this banjo on eBay here.