Somerset S-4 banjo prototype (flush fret)
Built in Virginia by Chris Via
$750 or best offer
(trade possible)
Big plunky thumpin' rich tone.
Compares very favorably to other fretless and flush fret banjos being made today (Enoch, Reiter, etc.)
Gorgeous, simply appointed.
Professional grade instrument.
Flush fret! metal frets sanded perfectly level with the fretboard.
12" maple rim (3" deep)
Maple neck
Brass tone ring
Scooped neck
Elite fyberskin head
Here are a couple YouTube videos featuring this exact banjo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI5SnKu736s
(the banjo is featured in this video right from the beginning)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvUv_CH8Rjo
(the banjo isn't featured in this one until 19:30 into this video)
This banjo is the prototype S-4 - the exact one he's playing in the videos.
(No, that's not me playing it. I wish I could play like that!)
I'm not confident that Somerset actually ever wound up getting them to production, so she may be one of a kind.
It appears that Somerset has actually ceased to produce banjos.
They're very hard to find; Somerset seems to have a small but virulent following.
This banjo is in very nice condition.
The neck is dead straight. The tuners work perfectly. Sounds awesome.
Very little wear - one or two very minor dings and a little finish wear on the neck.
I am only parting with this beauty because I cannot wrap my head around playing a flush fret.
I may be interested in trading for a fine fretted open back with a nice tone ring. (Reiter, Ramsey, Fawley, Ome, Vega, Fairbanks, or similar.)
(Please don't be offended if I'm not interested in whatever you have to offer; I have specific tastes).
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