Our fretless minstrel banjos and gourd banjos are hand made using period correct materials and finishes. An exception is low cost polymer strings (Nylgut) for our banjos. We can furnish genuine gut strings when available, but for those seeking absolute authenticity, remember that modern gut strings are made to tolerances far more exacting than anything available in the 19th Century. Maybe someday, if we find a good source for appropriate quality sheep intestines, we can offer some truly authentic strings. Until then, we'll make do with commercially available gut and synthetics. ; )





Authentic looking and affordable, our wooden shell and gourd banjos give you that wonderful 19th Century low bass toned minstrel sound. Each banjo is a unique hand made original by John Salicco. They are designed to be played "stroke style" (a simple type of frailing or claw hammer stroke) typically tuned 2 1/2 steps below modern tuning. From about 1830 to 1860 this was a common tuning for the banjo.





If you were searching for economically priced reproduction early 19th Century or Victorian period fretless banjos, you have landed in the right place.







