Description

Stanley Hicks, a Beech Mountain native, learned the art of building banjos from his father, who learned it from his father. He grew up in a very crafty and industrial family, building their own home, furniture, making their own clothing and much more. Watauga County, North Carolina, where this banjo was made, was home to many of the torchbearers of American traditional music and Appalachian storytelling, but Stanley Hicks in particular was a master of his many crafts including storytelling, flatfooting, and of course instrument making. Like other resourceful mountain instrument builders, Hicks made use of the easily attainable tone woods on his property and likely used the skin of whatever critter was available that week. Hicks was a vital part of the region’s folk music community writ large and an avid storyteller, a tradition that holds a lot of weight in Appalachia and earned him several regional and national accolades. He went on to be recorded by the likes of Alan Lomax and was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 1983, the highest national honor for folk arts. Today his instruments are considered among the higher quality examples of the mountain banjo tradition, and among the most sought after of this banjo family.

This instrument plays easily and sounds very “folksy.” The violin style tuning pegs fit well and hold tune without issue. The banjo has mostly just light wear, but there is a season split on the rim (not thru) and some chipping on the headstock face by the tuners. The bridge dips in the middle some. The 5th string tuner looks to be a replacement. Overall it is in very good condition. A very cool, historic piece for sure! No case

• Made in Watuga County, North Carolina, 1974
• Walnut
• 27 1/4″ scale
• 1 9/16″ nut width
• 6″ head