A reader writes:
Hi, our Pastor gave my son and "open back 1960 Kay Blue grass Banjo".
We were wondering about some extra info about it.
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The banjo may get your kid started down a dark musical path (one I've been treading since about 1968), but it won't put him through college.
Most Kay and Harmony student banjos made between 1946 and 1968 were made as cheaply as possible to capitalize on the "Folk Revival" craze, much as many of their cheap guitars. Doesn't mean that they can't be made playable, but it does mean they're hardly collector's items.
If you're interested in value period, if the banjo is still playable or can be restored to playability without a herculean effort, it is probably worth somewhere between $75 and $150. To dig out more specific information, follow the instructions in this link:
https://creekdontrise.com/acoustic/banj ... _value.htmIf your son's more interested in making it playable, please check out the instructions in this link:
https://creekdontrise.com/tabs_instr/ba ... _banjo.htmIf the banjo is REALLY hard to play, you might want to find someone local who can set it up for you. Prices for setups go between $35 and $100, depending on where you live and how much work needs to be done. Since these things didn't include adjustable neck rods, if the neck has warped, it may be a wall decoration. If you DO decide that it's a write-off and want to get a better banjo, there are some tips here:
https://riverboatmusic.com/banjos/five_ ... banjos.htmAnd tips on buying used banjos here:
https://creekdontrise.com/acoustic/used ... banjos.htmPlease let me know if you have any more questions. Also if the first article doesn't tell you what you need to know about the value of your Kay, please e-mail me photographs and I can get more specific.
God bless,
Paul