Unusual Design #1 Wizard
I requested photos for this Banjo Uke after seeing it up for auction several months ago and the new owner was kind enough to let me post them. It has the remnants of a Wizard decal on the headstock but that is where any similarity to the Wizard banjo ukes ceases. I have seen many of the Wizards up for auction and they are all a little different from each other in terms of finish color, inlay, the choice of woods used and fret board design. This one has a nickel plated metal rim that looks like very sophisticated design. I've never seen another banjo that has the hooks actually piercing through the rim like this one, and the metal must be thick and strong enough to bear the tension of the tightened skin. Another unique feature is the solid wood resonator that actually has a bolt plug like the Stromberg Voisinet banjo ukes. This resonator is similar to many of the Strombergs that have come up for auction as well. Often they are two pieces of solid walnut and have a second area of inlay-ed blonde wood. The peghead on this one has the remains of the diamond decal that many Wizards are seen with too. It seems to be a very compact model and the flange/resonator are quite minimal in profile. Peg head cut out is almost identical to the current design found on the recording king mark. As to the maker of this uke, it's really a mystery. I see similarities to the Strombergs in the resonator , and the heel of the neck as well as the resonator plug I mentioned. It also has the style of tailpiece that the Strombergs came with called the "Nashville" and available new from Stewart-Mac.
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