Rick Faris was a happy guy in Nashville this weekend, being awarded the Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year trophy from SPBGMA Saturday evening.
He was less thrilled when he made it home to Owensboro, KY and discovered that a banjo he had brought with him to Nashville didn’t make the return trip. Rick isn’t accusing anyone of stealing it, but is hoping that anyone who may have picked it up by mistake will help get it back where it belongs.
This is a Gibson banjo (possible clone), serial number 9528-13, with a Gary Price replica wreath pattern neck. It has a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, and Rick says it has a number of small “character marks” that he can readily identify for verification. The purple-lined case it was in has silver spray paint remnants in the texture of the exterior lid, and has a braided handle. Also, the strap D-ring on the neck side of the case has a missing rivet.
If you’ve ever been to the SPBGMA convention, you’ll know that it’s quite common to see folks packing up to leave with hotel carts stacked with musical instruments. Some people bring everything they’ve got in order to jam on them all over the weekend, while others bring ones to try and sell or trade.
Especially this past weekend, with the threat and actuality of severe winter weather, a good many attendees surely packed up in a hurry.
If anyone has this banjo by mistake, Faris asks that they reach out to him by email, or ship it back to him at his shop address:
Faris Guitar Co
207 E 2nd street
Owensboro, KY 42303
Here are a number of photos of the banjo.
Faris has already checked with SPBGMA and the Sheraton to see if it might have turned up there, but no luck.
