B&D Silver
Proveniens – Buddy Wachter
09/07/07
Hi Polle,
I hope you got my email
regarding a buy-it-now offer for my B&D #1 on ebay. In a strange way, even
though it means more money, I was sorry to see that someone out bid you, and by
such a small amount!
I have good news for you,
however. I have another B&D #1 just like it. MINE, and it is a great one, also with the extended fingerboard. It
is a banjo that I have used regularly to play classical virtuoso pieces on in
my symphony orchestra guest solo concerts. It has been restored and is a better
all around instrument than the one I just sold on ebay. It is prettier,
cleaner, and certainly plays and sounds much better since I have fine tuned
every aspect of it over 13 years. It also has the perforated tone ring. The
only thing that is not original is the tuners which I replaced with new 5-Star
Planets that are more reliable in a critical concert situation. The serial
number is 19319 so it is a bit later than the other one.
I was not planning to sell
this banjo but since I have just bought a wonderful B&D #3 Ne Plus Ultra,
also with an extended fingerboard, (an impossible to find necessity for the
classical pieces) I will sell my #1 to you if you want it. I could also put the
original Planet tuners back on for you. I will also ask $XXXX firm for this
banjo. Let me know if you would like me to send photos.
Hoping all is well with you
and yours . . .
With kindest regards,
Buddy
11/07/07
Hi Polle,
Ryan got us up at 5 am this
morning with his usual bright and cheerful smile. It is like Christmas morning
every day around here. But how I long for those days when Cindy and I would
sleep until 8:30!
The way you talk about
banjos makes you instantly my brother! It tells me that you have done at lot of
experimenting, but what is more, that you have an ear which can hear the subtle
changes and differences. You are so right about the extended fingerboard height
and higher bridge giving a better tone. The virtuoso players in the 1920s knew
this.
I will take photos of the
#1 later today and email them to you. I am glad that you are interested. It is
a great banjo and I want it to have a good home.
With kindest regards,
Buddy
14/07/07
Hi Polle,
I packed your banjo and
sent it off this morning . . . after playing on it for nearly an hour! And that
was with the lousy bronze strings you mentioned. They weren't my idea. I had
loaned the banjo to a friend over this month who is playing in a Broadway show
here in town. Anyway, I am going to miss this one. I only hope the Ne Plus #3
sounds so good. I am having it replated right now.
Your banjo should arrive in
a week or so. Please email me when it comes. I listed it as a collectors
instrument with a value of $XXXX.
I sincerely hope that we
have the opportunity to meet sometime. With this mutual love of banjos -- the
playing, players, history, instruments, etc. and a lifetime of study and
obsession with all of that, we have a lot to talk about.
With warmest regards,
Buddy