Tonewood CA-25S Short Scale Traveller 5 String Banjo

The Tonewood CA-25S Californian 5 string short scale travel banjo.
This is the same specification as the highly respected Heartwood CA-25, the same that is apart from the scale length which at 56mm makes this the ideal traveling banjo or simply one for sitting around the house for a quick practice session. Like its bigger brother Maple Open Back banjos have been manufactured in America for many years. For example the famous maker Deering banjos make the popular Goodtime banjo range. The problem is that the USA manufactured banjos may be good but with the value of the dollar as it is now against the British pound they have become very, almost prohibitively expensive. For years there has been a demand for a good quality open back maple banjo at not such a high price. Here is the answer to the problem, manufactured in the worlds largest banjo factory the Heartwood CA-25S California model banjo is now available in the UK. The key is that rock maple construction is a very stable way of making banjos and when set up by people like us who know what we are doing provides a very good tonal quality. It also and very importantly has a replaceable banjo head which makes it sound and play like a proper banjo but even though it has a smaller body it is loud. Great for all styles of banjo playing but especially suits clawhammer banjo and frailing banjo styles. Set up in our workshop for perfect playing condition by our own technicians this banjo fills the gap that the high value of the US dollar has left behind.
Let me give you a little of the specifications of this banjo…..
With an overall length of around 770mm (excluding tail piece) and with a rock maple rim of 11” x 7/16” (approx 279 x 14mm) diameter which is fitted with a solid brass tone ring this banjo produces a wonderfully clear, warm yet bright sound. The 18 rim hooks tension the nickel plated tension hoop and frosted USA REMO weather king banjo head. The 5/8” bridge is maple with a rosewood tip and the nickel plated Waverley style tailpiece will accommodate both ball or loop end strings. The double lag bolts and coordinating rods at the rear of the pot attaches the neck and are nickel plated as is the armrest which is attached by a single bracket to the pot assembly.
The banjo neck is a combination of solid rock maple and two way adjustable truss rod has a solid maple fingerboard which is inlaid with both pearl diamond shapes and dots at the frets 3,5,7,10,12,15,17 and 19. and has side position dot markers on the same frets. The banjo headstock is faced with quilted maple where there is also the black on white bell shaped truss rod cover. There is an attractive Heartwood Logo on the front face in black silhouette type and 4 nickel plated pearl buttoned tuners and a 5th string geared tuner complete this wonderful banjo.
Didn’t we say you get a lot for your money and I am sure you will agree you certainly do with this banjo you really do.
Approx dimensions
Scale Length: 506mm
Nut width: 31.50mm