• Showroom photo of Full front and side of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169

    This C. Waldman 12" Chromatic openback banjo offers impressive tone and light weight. Features include a hand-carved cherry neck, 12" 2-ply cherry rim,  and Waldman's integral all-wood "Tone Rim" of California Redwood (see Details section below).  With Claro walnut accent woods on neck and rim, scooped fretboard, and handcarved tailpiece, bridge &  armrest.  Tone is bright and loud. Weighs just 4 lbs. Impeccably handcrafted in the USA in Chuck's one-person shop. 


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  • Front and side of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Full front and side of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Bridge of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Front neck joint and scoop of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Fretboard of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Headstock of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Tuners of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Rear neck joint of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Back and side of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Full back and side of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Inside rim of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Front of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Full front of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
  • Side of C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169
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C. Waldman 12" Openback Banjo No. 169 (#CW169)

  • 12" 2-Ply (plus step) Cherry Rim
  • Douglas Fir Tone Rim, Beveled -- with 3 Tone Holes*
  • Hand-Carved Cherry Neck
  • 1/4" x 3/8" Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rod
  • 17 Fret Ebony Fingerboard, scooped
  • 25-1/2" Scale Length
  • EVO Fretwire
  • Claro Walnut accent woods
  • Claro Walnut hand carved tailpiece
  • Cherry armrest
  • Brass Hardware & shop-built tension hoop
  • Gotoh Tuners, Brass w/ Black Buttons
  • Custom off-set 3-leg bridge of Douglas Fir**
  • Renaissance Head
  • Hand-rubbed oil varnish finish
  • D'Addario J-55 Strings
  • Weighs 4 lbs

*The Chromatic model has 3 vertical holes in the tone rim that vary in depth according to the fret scale. This adds sympathetic tones in the same family as the chromatic scale of fretted notes. Other features of the Chromatic are a coved tone rim, a varied rim wall thickness (the “step” adds thickness at the top to support the tone rim), and the select combinations of wood.

** Douglas Fir is a relatively hard softwood.  Chuck chose it as a nod to the Southern Pine used on some Minstrel banjos

C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169

C. Waldman 12" Chromatic (Step Side) Openback Banjo - No. 169

Expert Setup
New

SKU: CW169

$1,895 USD
$1,895.00 USD
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Shipping calculated at checkout.
Experience the Elderly Difference

This C. Waldman 12" Chromatic openback banjo offers impressive tone and light weight. Features include a hand-carved cherry neck, 12" 2-ply cherry rim,  and Waldman's integral all-wood "Tone Rim" of California Redwood (see Details section below).  With Claro walnut accent woods on neck and rim, scooped fretboard, and handcarved tailpiece, bridge &  armrest.  Tone is bright and loud. Weighs just 4 lbs. Impeccably handcrafted in the USA in Chuck's one-person shop. 

More Details

More Details

C. Waldman 12" Openback Banjo No. 169 (#CW169)

  • 12" 2-Ply (plus step) Cherry Rim
  • Douglas Fir Tone Rim, Beveled -- with 3 Tone Holes*
  • Hand-Carved Cherry Neck
  • 1/4" x 3/8" Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rod
  • 17 Fret Ebony Fingerboard, scooped
  • 25-1/2" Scale Length
  • EVO Fretwire
  • Claro Walnut accent woods
  • Claro Walnut hand carved tailpiece
  • Cherry armrest
  • Brass Hardware & shop-built tension hoop
  • Gotoh Tuners, Brass w/ Black Buttons
  • Custom off-set 3-leg bridge of Douglas Fir**
  • Renaissance Head
  • Hand-rubbed oil varnish finish
  • D'Addario J-55 Strings
  • Weighs 4 lbs

*The Chromatic model has 3 vertical holes in the tone rim that vary in depth according to the fret scale. This adds sympathetic tones in the same family as the chromatic scale of fretted notes. Other features of the Chromatic are a coved tone rim, a varied rim wall thickness (the “step” adds thickness at the top to support the tone rim), and the select combinations of wood.

** Douglas Fir is a relatively hard softwood.  Chuck chose it as a nod to the Southern Pine used on some Minstrel banjos

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