Pisgah Maple Dobson 12" Openback 5-String Banjo

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Handcrafted in Fairview, North Carolina, the Pisgah Dobson 12" Maple Banjo combines historical 1880s tonal innovation with sustainable Appalachian woods and player-friendly modern hardware.  

Short Scale Playability (25.5" Scale) Featuring a 25.5-inch short scale length, this banjo reduces fingerboard stretches and string tension. The result is a slinky, effortless hand feel that makes complex chord grips easier and yields a rounder fundamental note response compared to longer standard-scale necks.  This helps produce that old-time sound.   

Maple Neck & Rim Construction The solid maple neck and 12" maple rim provide high structural rigidity and clean acoustic projection. Maple’s bright, crisp attack and singing top end balance the deep, resonant low-end inherent to a 12-inch pot, ensuring your playing never sounds muddy or lost in a mix.  

Persimmon Fretboard Benefits Harvested locally, persimmon serves as a sustainable, domestic alternative to imported ebony. As a native cousin to ebony, persimmon is exceptionally dense and wear-resistant, offering a silky-smooth surface under your fingers with fast note response and lasting durability.  It also looks super cool!   

Dobson Tone Ring & Renaissance Head Dynamics

• Dobson Tone Ring: Modeled after the historic 1881 patent, this flared brass ring adds open resonance, bell-like clarity, and singing sustain.

• Remo Renaissance Head: Emulates the warm, organic tone of natural calfskin with smooth mid-range focus and controlled overtones.  

• Tonal Profile: The pairing produces a full-bodied, woodsy "plunk" backed by dynamic projection, crisp attack, and long sustain.  

   

The Pisgah Advantage

• Wide Frailing Notch: A custom notch on the tension hoop near the neck joint gives clawhammer pickers generous right-hand clearance without hitting thumb or fingers on metal edges.  

• Sculpted Thumb Rest: A smooth, ergonomic neck contour provides a comfortable anchor point for your hand when fretting notes higher up the neck.

• Magnetic Truss Rod Cover: Snaps off magnetically for instant, tool-free access to the two-way truss rod without dealing with tiny, easily lost screws.