1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
- JSett
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 9123
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:33 pm
- Location: Old Hampshire, Old England
1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
After my disappointing experience with a borked 1950s Kay Banjo (neck like a banana) I've been keeping my eye out for an alternative. On Thursday I found one for sale for a decent price and it happened the seller was 1 mile from a venue I was playing a gig at that night. Serendipity brought it effortlessly into my hands.
So, I have a 1920s Kenmore Ludwig 4-string 'plectrum' banjo, made in Chicago....
Tailpiece is a little work of art...
Lovely inlay work on the sides and back...
Original case, key and hangtag. Amazing considering its about 100 years old!...
I've just got back from a very long weekend at a punk festival so haven't even tried tuning or playing it but the action seems reasonable enough and it rings loud and clear. I might swap the head for a fibreskyn at some point. Not worked out which tuning to try first either, all in due time.
So, I have a 1920s Kenmore Ludwig 4-string 'plectrum' banjo, made in Chicago....
Tailpiece is a little work of art...
Lovely inlay work on the sides and back...
Original case, key and hangtag. Amazing considering its about 100 years old!...
I've just got back from a very long weekend at a punk festival so haven't even tried tuning or playing it but the action seems reasonable enough and it rings loud and clear. I might swap the head for a fibreskyn at some point. Not worked out which tuning to try first either, all in due time.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?
- JSett
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 9123
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:33 pm
- Location: Old Hampshire, Old England
Re: 1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
After a little setup work I've got the action down a bit more. There is no neck adjustment that I can see or find researching the internet (it's not built like a regular banjo) so it's more about setting the bridge height over anything else.
Plays and sounds nice though. Here is an hour or so's worth of 'having a shot' distilled into a small snippet of music...
https://youtube.com/shorts/Lz8p0FDzlsM? ... ZyHe2Y8Gls
Plays and sounds nice though. Here is an hour or so's worth of 'having a shot' distilled into a small snippet of music...
https://youtube.com/shorts/Lz8p0FDzlsM? ... ZyHe2Y8Gls
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?
- andy
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1050
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:43 pm
- Location: Regina, SK
Re: 1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
Nice! I have the same model. They actually made this model with brass, like yours, or pot metal like mine. I got mine about a year ago and really love it. I like playing swing music and it’s perfect.
I actually had the choice between brass and pot metal and went with the pot metal model because it had a dead straight neck. The lack of trussrod a a bummer so it pays to find a model with a good neck. Congrats and have fun!
I actually had the choice between brass and pot metal and went with the pot metal model because it had a dead straight neck. The lack of trussrod a a bummer so it pays to find a model with a good neck. Congrats and have fun!
Send me western swing vids
- JSett
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 9123
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:33 pm
- Location: Old Hampshire, Old England
Re: 1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
Nice! Good to find someone with direct experience of the model I haven't taken it apart yet to look at the bracing situation but I understand from research that it's not done the conventional way for a banjo. I'm right in thinking the resonator can't be removed without full string and head removal, yeah?andy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 10:39 pmNice! I have the same model. They actually made this model with brass, like yours, or pot metal like mine. I got mine about a year ago and really love it. I like playing swing music and it’s perfect.
I actually had the choice between brass and pot metal and went with the pot metal model because it had a dead straight neck. The lack of trussrod a a bummer so it pays to find a model with a good neck. Congrats and have fun!
The neck has a little bow to it. Relief is about 1/16" and the action at rest is about 3/16" - infinitely more playable than the 1/2" of my previous banjo
There is a banjo luthier about 25mins drive from me so I could always get it looked at if needed.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?
- Scout
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 992
- Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:26 pm
- Location: Phillyish
Re: 1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
That makes me smile. Being from Philadelphia we have alot of vintage banjo and banjo related instruments around due to the ongoing New Years Day Mummers parade being a bunch of string bands. I still have a mando/banjo with a full resonator and mother of toilet seat fingerboard.
- andy
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1050
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:43 pm
- Location: Regina, SK
Re: 1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
I think you have to take the whole thing apart. I haven’t tried on mine. The pot metal hoop(? Rim?) on mine is cracked in a bunch of spots and I’m scared that if I take it apart, a bunch of pieces will break. I think you’d be fine with the brass hoop. Either way, check for cracks in the metal!JSett wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 11:06 pm
Nice! Good to find someone with direct experience of the model I haven't taken it apart yet to look at the bracing situation but I understand from research that it's not done the conventional way for a banjo. I'm right in thinking the resonator can't be removed without full string and head removal, yeah?
Send me western swing vids
- andy
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1050
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:43 pm
- Location: Regina, SK
Re: 1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
Figured I’d take some pics so you can see how to identify brass vs pot metal. Pot metal typically has these little diamond-like vents.
Send me western swing vids
- JSett
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 9123
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:33 pm
- Location: Old Hampshire, Old England
Re: 1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
Oh wow, there are a few differences for sure. The bracing system inside appears to be different to mine too. Mine doesn't have the metal rod, just a piece of wood with various metal furnishings to tension the neck against the rims.
I took mine apart briefly earlier to have a look but wasn't in a position to did too far, and was scared to fuck it up I have got the action a little lower though, which is nice.
Definitely better at Chicago tuning, it's just a weird guitar at that point but the familiarity of the finger positions means I can already get some half-decent playing and tunes out of it.
I took mine apart briefly earlier to have a look but wasn't in a position to did too far, and was scared to fuck it up I have got the action a little lower though, which is nice.
Definitely better at Chicago tuning, it's just a weird guitar at that point but the familiarity of the finger positions means I can already get some half-decent playing and tunes out of it.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?
- JSett
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 9123
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:33 pm
- Location: Old Hampshire, Old England
Re: 1920's Ludwig Kenmore plectrum banjo
Trying to give this about 30mins a day minimum. Speed is picking up a little. I tried with some actual fingerpicks and was utterly terrible...much more comfortable with just fingertips - and it gives a softer sound, which I like
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?