Pisgah 11" Cherry Possum 5-String Banjo #4366

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This Pisgah Possum was handmade by Pisgah Banjo Co. in Asheville, North Carolina. The Possum is Pisgah's classic old-time openback: a cherry rim with a persimmon tone ring, a cherry neck and a persimmon fingerboard. We ordered this one with the smaller 11" rim and a short 25 1/2" scale, which makes it a little lighter, a little punchier and very easy to play.

What Makes This Banjo Different

• 11" cherry rim. Most Possums are built on a 12" rim. The 11" pot tightens up the low end and gives a more focused, punchy note that cuts through a jam, and the banjo is a bit smaller and lighter on your lap.
• Persimmon tone ring. Instead of a metal tone ring, the head sits on a persimmon tone ring, a dense hardwood. It gives the Possum its warm, woody voice with a soft attack and no harsh overtones.  This one is truly unique to Pisgah Banjo and their mission to use locally sourced tone woods. 
• Short 25 1/2" scale. The shorter neck puts a little less tension on the strings, so they feel slinky and easy to fret, and the reach to the first few frets is shorter. Great for smaller hands and for tuning down to old-time keys.
• Quilted star peghead and walnut rim cap. The paddle headstock carries Pisgah's quilted star inlay, and the walnut cap on the back of the rim contrasts with the cherry for a clean, handmade look.

The Sound

Warm and woody with a clear, plunky note. The persimmon tone ring keeps the tone round and sweet, the Renaissance head adds a touch of warmth, and the 11" rim keeps everything focused instead of boomy. The straight scoop at the end of the fingerboard gives your strumming hand room to frail right over the sweet spot.

Why Banjo Studio Loves This Banjo

• A Pisgah old-time voice. Cherry, persimmon and an 11" pot is a great recipe for clawhammer, front-porch picking and fiddle tunes.
• Pisgah advantages. All Pisgah banjos have easy truss rod access with a unique truss rod cover held in place with magnets. You also get the frailing notch on the tension hoop for more room at the sweet spot between the neck and the head. A small detail that makes a big difference. Pisgah builds by hand in a solar-powered, net zero carbon shop and backs every banjo with a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner.
• Comfortable to play. The short scale, clear-finished cherry neck, white Tusq nut and Gotoh tuners make it easy to play and easy to keep in tune.

Comes with a padded Pisgah Access gig bag, PBCO Clawhammer strings and Pisgah's certificate of ownership. Made in U.S.A.

Best for: clawhammer and old-time players who want a warm, woody tone from a persimmon tone ring, a focused 11" cherry rim and an easy-playing short scale neck.

Professional Setup and Free Shipping

Every banjo is professionally set up and checked by Banjo Studio before it leaves our shop, so it plays great right out of the box. Shipping is free to the lower 48 states.