A.E. Smith Banjo 1976 Mahogany Northampton Bluegrass Model (Code: AE193)

Quantity in stock: 0

Not available

This A.E. Smith mahogany model Northampton banjo is one of only a handful ever made. This instrument is a great player with a nice, focused low end and beautiful highs, ideal for a melodic player that uses the whole neck.

Banjo Type Banjo Type : 5 String Resonator

Banjo Scale Length Banjo Scale Length : 27"

Banjo Rim Banjo Rim Material : Mahogany

Rim Diameter Banjo Rim Size : 11"

Tone Ring Banjo Tone Ring : Modified Bacon

Request Info

This A.E. Smith model "Northampton" banjo is somewhat of an anomaly, but a certainly one that we're excited about! The A.E. Smith banjo company operated in the 1970s right over the border in the area of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Here at Maple Leaf Music we have a rather special connection with these instruments because our store's founder and former owner, Kate Spencer, was one of the founders of A.E. Smith as well.

We've had may of A.E. Smith's instruments through our doors over the years, and this resonator banjo was a bit of a surprise for us. They made many very highly regarded open-back, old-time banjos, but only three bluegrass-style resonator instruments ever came out of the A.E. Smith shop. That's not to say they didn't do a really fine job of it!

This instrument is a great player with a nice, focused low end and beautiful melodic highs. It plays exceptionally well up the neck with a nice even sound. The combination of the smaller pot size and the bacon-esque ring give it a solid range of tone without it being exceptionally loud, so it would be really well suited to players that do a lot of precise single-line playing that want a gorgeous high range.

It's in quite excellent shape for the vintage and the finishing touches are well done. The notable blemishes are some buckle rash on the back of the resonator and tarnish on the chromed hardware. It bears the makers' signature maple leaf on the headstock along with very clean, attractive laminate work on the neck, binding and heelcap. We just had it set up by our luthier, so the frets and action are perfect and it's been fitted with a scorpion bridge.

A truly beautiful banjo, born in the Northeast!

Hardshell case included.

Request More Information

Accepted Payment Methods

All major credit cards issued in the United States
Please verify availability before payment via (802) 254-5559 or [email protected]. Make payments to

for customers in the United States ONLY.
Certified bank checks and money orders *
Personal checks (with necessary shipping delay) *
Cash

Shipping Policy

Ships from Brattleboro, VT

Please contact us by clicking "ask a question" above to request a shipping quote or call (802)254-5559 for the lowest and most appropriate shipping rate available for your instrument, location and availability. We do ship internationally to certain countries, so please contact us.

Return Policy

Maple Leaf Music Co. has a 24-hour approval period after which time if the customer decides to return the item it must be in the original condition it was shipped and in the original packaging. No playing wear or signs of use should be detected. The customer must contact Maple Leaf Music prior to returning their instrument or the package will be refused. The customer is responsible for all shipping charges to and from if they return the instrument. There is a 4% restock fee if a credit card or PayPal was used as payment.*

* Payment with a certified bank check, personal check, and money order does not incur a restocking fee.

In Store Purchases

There is no approval period if you purchase an instrument in person (because you’ve seen it, played it and asked all the right questions of our knowledgeable staff), but be assured that if you buy an instrument or other product and are dissatisfied for any reason, we offer store credit for all returns up to 7 days after the purchase with a receipt. No monetary refunds.

Maple Leaf Music is now appointment only, call (802) 254-5559 to setup an appointment.

Care and Feeding of a Solid Wood Instrument

Any instrument with solid woods requires the owner to control the humidity and temperature that instrument will be kept in. As a general rule of thumb, a solid wood instrument wants to live in an environment you would be comfortable in.

For the Dry Months

We recommend that you use two humidifiers in your case, one inside the sound hole and one in the space by the headstock.

We sell the Oasis brand humidification products as well as Dampits for instruments with smaller soundholes.

Signs of dryness include:

Depression of the top
Very low string action
String buzz
Sharp frets along the edge of the fingerboard

If any of these occur your instrument is too dry.

While the guitar company will warranty your new guitar for defects in manufacture, they specifically state in all the warranty literature that cracking or any other shrinking due to dryness is not covered.

For the Wet Months

It is as easy to over humidify a guitar as it is to under humidify and the consequences are just as dire. If you keep your house humidified, you probably don‘t need case humidifiers.

Signs of too much humidity include:

Action (String Height) is uncomfortable to play
Frets have discolored or turned green
Condensation on the top
The top is bellied up like and arch top guitar

To prevent humidity issues in either direction, please invest in a hygrometer. You want the levels to be around 45-50% moisture and this little tool will tell you where you are. Oasis makes a good one to go along with its’ humidifiers. Please inquire if you have questions concerning any instrument purchased at Maple Leaf Music.