{"product_id":"c1893-w-a-cole-eclipse-man-in-the-moon-open-back-banjo-nylgut-strings","title":"C1893 W. A. Cole Eclipse Man in the Moon Open Back Banjo Nylgut Strings","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSome banjos come through the shop, and you know they've been loved. This one is a genuine William A. Cole \"Eclipse,\" built in Boston during the banjo's golden age, and it's the real thing — no reissue, no reproduction, just a beautifully preserved piece of 19th-century American craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe star of the show is the peghead: the famed \"Man in the Moon\" pearl inlay, rendered with the kind of hand-cut precision that made Cole's instruments the envy of the trade. It's whimsical and elegant at once, the sort of detail that stops a fellow banjo player mid-sentence when they spot it across a room.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis example has come down remarkably well over the years. The original finish still glows with a warm, honeyed patina rather than the dulled or stripped look you so often find on instruments this old. Hardware, rim, and neck all show minimal wear — the kind of survival story that makes a dealer's day. Original tension hoop, original tailpiece, and that unmistakable Eclipse tone: bright, articulate, with the woody snap that made these Boston-made banjos so prized among old-time and classic players alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCole's banjos were considered top-tier instruments in their day, built to compete with the best Fairbanks and Stewart had to offer, and this Eclipse holds its own admirably. It's equally at home on a wall as a museum-quality centerpiece or in the hands of a player who wants an authentic period voice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eInstruments like this — original, honest, and well-kept — don't turn up often. Serious inquiries only; condition photos available upon request.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e* The information presented here was collected from the estate of Marvin Rosenberg and independent research. It is accurate to the best of our ability.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"W A Cole","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49076084965561,"sku":null,"price":2000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/5295\/5065\/files\/C1893WAColeManintheMoonFront.webp?v=1788554949","url":"https:\/\/woodandwire.net\/products\/c1893-w-a-cole-eclipse-man-in-the-moon-open-back-banjo-nylgut-strings","provider":"Wood \u0026 Wire Fine Fretted Instruments","version":"1.0","type":"link"}