I was not paying close attention, but today's posting of a 1976 G11 caught my attention when I realized that the buyer also had purchased another G11 only three months ago. Then I noticed the buyer appeared to be working on complete collection. Here are the instruments he/she has purchased so far:

• 04/21/07 - G 11 FE,760287
• 02/07/07 - GF 100 HF, 810041 - in the process paying $250 more than the previous model 100 high and setting the $1,779 record.
• 01/13/07 - G 11 W, 810307
• 04/30/06 - G 20 JD, 810056

That leaves only a G12 and G200 to acquire unless this collector intends to get every variation of each model.

When I first listed this banjo, I noted that there was a heel problem and that the gold plating appeared very worn. The buyer of this banjo wrote to tell me that the banjo was in much better shape than the eBay photos conveyed, including the gold plating. He confirmed that the heel cut, mentioned in the eBay listing, is something he will have repaired.

I had listed the case as unknown because the seller did not have a photo in the listing.  The buyer reports that the case is the original Gold Star Superior model, which I call "GS Blue."

Bruce Connole, player for the Phoenix band Busted Hearts, is the owner of this instrument. In an email exchange that he has allowed me to share, he reports:

"That Gold Star is my main and only banjo and it is the one I got on eBay back in September 2004.

"It sounds wonderful. I sold a Gibson RB-250 to get my hands on this and it was definitely the right decision, for me at any rate. It sounds a bit richer (deeper with a little more bottom end) than most recorded archtops I've heard but still has plenty of 'Stanley' bite which is the main reason I moved to an archtop. I left it pretty much stock (with the Gibson I think I tried every aftermarket part available and still couldn't get the tone I wanted) and only changed the head (WeatherKing), put on some Keith tuners and sanded down a Grover bridge to get the sound I was looking for. It amplifies great as well. I'm using a rare earth pickup through a Fender Super Twin (gotta have tubes) and it still sounds like a banjo with all the tone intact for the most part (most electric banjos sound like electric guitars so what's the point?). All in all, I can't say enough good things about this banjo."

Randy Bartlett, the original owner of the banjo and the seller in this eBay transaction, reports that he purchased it by mail order from Saga in 1978. He specifically requested Flying Eagle inlays and, indeed, got them. However, Saga delivered the the Flying Eagle neck on a rim with a serial number label marked "GF 100 HF." Because the banjo was supplied this way direct from the factory, I do not consider it a hybrid. I reserve the hybrid designation for instruments that have been modified after the fact.

Supplied with a Fults tailpiece; the original tailpiece was not included in the sale. Heel was re-cut and neck lag screws were repositioned after old holes were doweled. Hairline crack in heel from doweling.

This was one of the best eBay banjo listings I have ever seen in terms of the quantity and quality of the photographs. The listing was also extremely forthcoming, revealing aspects of the banjo (such as the re-cut of the heel) that could have easily been hidden.

Player Bud Melvin sold this banjo, disclosing the following in his eBay listing and setting a model for candor.  I wish every eBay listing was this forthcoming.

"This is a fantastic instrument, but it IS NOT in perfect condition so please read:

"I toured extensively with this banjo and it developed a small crack at the base of the neck. I started using another banjo after that and just recently had this instrument repaired and set up. The crack was expertly repaired and the 5th string tuner was glued in, as that had gotten stripped out as well. I bought this from the original owner in the mid 90s and this comes with what I'm pretty certain is the original hard shell case. The case is missing the handle and has a silver paint mark. The banjo is also missing one of the 4 bolts which attach the resonator - an easy part to replace."

The buyer in the January 6th sale has received the instrument and reports that he is completely satisfied with it.  He has some experience with vintage instruments and reports that the repair to the neck is "the best one I've ever seen."  He is not convinced that there was actually a break.

He is extremely happy with the way the banjo sounds and said "That instrument gives credibility to all you hear about vintage Gold Stars."

This instrument has been listed on eBay several times since it was purchased. In one of the listings, photos were included showing a repaired crack in the narrow portion of the headstock just above the nut.  The repair looks good.  However, the crack was not disclosed in every subsequent eBay listing, just some. The eBay listing with pictures showing the crack is #3769101586. The banjo was listed again on January 5 with full disclosure and sold on January 6 for $1,000.

Many thanks to Gerry McGowan, an alert Banjo Hangout member who posted a warning in the Hangout's forums. Thanks to Alan Garrity for alerting me to the Jan 6 sale.

Player Robert "Tex" Ehmann purchased this banjo and tells the following story:

"My conversion Gibson was having some work done and would be tied up for some time. I needed another instrument fast.

"When it arrived it sounded terrible, so I had the neck "repainted," cleaned all the metal parts and ordered new brackets and nuts since the originals had tarnished. I put a 5 star head on it and tightened it down. That got better sound but still not great as I was lead to believe. I took it to the Banjo Shop in Old Forge, NY where Al Worthen really put the sound back in it. He adjusted the nut and coordinator rods and after 2 hours of tweaking, he finally added a Snuffy Smith bridge. I now can chip paint with it. It is better sound wise than my TB3 conversion archtop."

I asked the seller what was going on.  First, he assured me that nothing was wrong with the instrument.  He then went on to explain that the first buyer asked to cancel the sale for personal reasons.  As for the second buyer, I did not get a clear explanation.  I believe (no proof) the seller saw the $4200 November 7 sale of the 1981 JD Crowe and had seller's remorse.

The banjo was listed on eBay for one day on December 27 at $3,200.  It did not sell.

Jan 17 - This banjo has found an owner!  He reports great happiness with the purchase.