1900 Fairbanks Senator no. 1 Serial #12743

Own a pristine piece of American musical history. Handcrafted in Boston during the legendary "pre-fire" golden era, this highly coveted 1900 A.C. Fairbanks Senator No. 1 open-back 5-string banjo delivers the quintessential warm, punchy tone prized by old-time clawhammer players.

Build & Materials

• Neck: Beautifully aged mahogany
• Fingerboard: Ebony with classic dot-and-dash mother-of-pearl inlays
• Rim: Premium metal spunover rim over a solid wood core — provides exceptional projection and clarity

Size & Feel

• Scale Length: 25"
• Effortless playability

Sound Profile Quintessential warm, punchy tone prized by old-time clawhammer players, with exceptional projection and clarity from the metal spunover rim.

The Details

• Built by A.C. Fairbanks, Boston, 1900 (pre-fire era)
• Serial number: 12743
• Collector-grade; meticulous pre-1904 craftsmanship that modern makers struggle to replicate
• Comes with a chipboard case
• From the Marvin Rosenberg Collection

The Marvin Rosenberg Collection This banjo comes from the collection of Marvin Rosenberg — patriarch, attorney, corporate counsel, competitive sports car racer, and lifelong lover of folk and Americana music. For decades, Marvin showed up to jam sessions and bluegrass venues with friends, and that same passion shaped his instrument collection. He sought out player-grade instruments — vintage pieces with real, honest wear from a life of actual use — over pristine collector-shelf pieces, assembling a personal collection of guitars, mandolins and banjos meant to be enjoyed rather than admired behind glass. Each piece was a tool of a passionate musician, chosen with the discerning eye of someone who understood exactly what made it special.

Perfect for serious collectors and discerning performers alike — own a rare heirloom from the pre-fire golden era.

* The information presented here was collected from the estate of Marvin Rosenberg and independent research. It is accurate to the best of our ability.