My American Princess

There's been an old banjo hanging on my wall for years. I think it belonged to my grandfather. I finally decided that I'd like to try to play it, so it needed to be restored. It had corroded steel strings and was missing it's bridge. After several phone calls, I hooked up with Jim Collier of Raleigh who restored it to it's glory. Jim carved a new bridge, restrung it with gut strings and cleaned everything except the head (I like the original dirt).

The banjo is an SS Stewart American Princess. From the serial number, I determined it was probably built in ~ 1895.

Jim played it for me before I brought it home. That's the first time she's sung in many years.

Jim has his own group, Big Medicine, and recently played on Garrison Keiler's Prairie Home Companion.