GTR 5 STRING BANJO 1970'S DESIGNED BY GEORGE GRUHN TUT TAYLOR RANDY WOOD

Description

HELLO,
I AM OFFERING THIS 5 STRING BLUEGRASS BANJO DESIGNED AND ENDORSED BY GEORGE GRUHN TUT TAYLOR AND RANDY WOOD, THESE 3 MEN WERE PARTNERS IN THE EARLY 70'S AND HAD A STORE IN NASHVILLE THAT SPECIALIZED IN VINTAGE STRING INSTRUMENTS,
I BELIEVE THESE WERE MADE TO THEIR SPECIFICATIONS  BY A COMPANY IN JAPAN.
I OWNED ONE OF THESE BACK ON THE 1990'S THEY WERE EXCELLENT QUALITY INSTRUMENTS
UNFORTUNATELY ,
THE OWNER OF THIS BANJO DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL BODY WITH SOME SORT OF ALTERNATIVE RIM, TONE RING ETC, BASICALLY THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE BANJO IS NOT ORIGINAL.
ALSO, IT APPEARS THE NECK AT THE HEEL HAS BEEN ALTERED TO ACCOMMADATE THE BACK PLATE,
YES IT PLAYS WELL ENOUGH AND SOUNDS GOOD BUT IT IS NOT THE HIGH QUALITY YOU'D EXPECT FROM AN ORIGINAL GTR,
INFO FROM GOOGLE
GTR was a Japanese "masterclone" sold between 1974 and approximately 1978. They were made for GTR by Iida. GTR stands for George Gruhn, Tut Taylor and Randy Wood, three dealers/ builders in the Nashville scene in the mid 70's and who are still widely respected today. The banjos were available in one finish only, dark mahogany, with 2 piece flange and flat head tone ring. There were a few hundred" of them made but the exact number is unknown.
GTRs were often viewed as comparable or better quality to Gibsons of the same period,
HERE IS SOME GOOD INFORMATION FROM ANOTHER EABY BANJO EXPERT;
The pot is a LEEDY brand,(famous drum maker) They made banjos from about 1926--1932.
A very good & well made pot.
Tommy
shipping is fedex or USPS.
THANKS FOR LOOKING ,
SHIPS IN A SOFT CASE AS PICTURED.  IT WILL BE PACKED FOR SAFE ARRIVAL.