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Baldwin Ode Banjo Serial Numbers

Ode/Baldwin Style C plectrum banjo made in the U.S. In 1970s or early 1980s. This banjo has been refinished -not the best, not the worst. The inner rim has been repainted black so there are no identifying marks, serial number, etc. Likewise the headstock was painted black so therefore no Ode or Baldwin. Vintage 1966 Baldwin Style D. Serial number 277, which is THE earliest D in the Baldwin/Ode database. Built in Boulder, CO. Comes with the original Lifton case. It is in incredible condition, near museum quality. Of 1980.This numbering code started in the early 1970's, after Baldwin moved the Ode banjo works to Arkansas from Colorado. There were several earlier numbering systems used before the buyout and the move. This one made the most sense by far. The first 2 numbers are the month, second 2 are the year, and the third 2 numbers are the individual piece. B&D models stopped around 1968 following Baldwin’s (Gretsch’s parent company) 1967 purchase of the ODE company. In 1987, after the Gretsch family had re-acquired their name, re-introduced the B&D Silver Bell but the market didn’t seem to care. Baldwin / Ode 2LR.  Long Neck. 5 string Banjo  with original HSC   serial number 3393.

Posted -: 19:51:26 Hi Laurence -- 1. What is the SERIAL number on it? It should be stamped into the inside wall of the rim.

The serial format should be one of the following: 2SR – xxx 2SR – xxx – G 2SR – xxxx – G 2. Does it have the gear adjustment hole -- in the heel? When Baldwin bought ODE, in 1966 -- they kept using Chuck's original vendors, to make all of the parts. So, all of the 'ODE' stampings remained on the metal work -- right up until the very end.

Baldwin Guitars and Amplifiers. So you kind of have to go by the evidence: September ’65 to ’66: dual-logo and glued-on Baldwin-logo. Early ’66 to mid/late ’66: transitional models with old Burns-style heads and engraved Baldwin logos. Late ’66 to ’70: new.

The aluminum rims were die-cast -- with the molded-in words: ' Boulder -- ODE -- Colorado' along with 'model' and 'Grade' Those words were never eliminated from the mold -- even though the banjos were being made in Arkansas, starting in mid-1968. That has caused a tremendous amount of confusion over the years. (There is an also an apocryphal story circulating -- that the aircraft-grade aluminum, used in the ODE rims was obtained from crashed German Stuka dive bombers! You're from London. Ever hear of that tale?;-) Since yours has ONLY the 'Baldwin' banner (with no ODE) -- it was made sometime from mid-1966 to '72 or '73. I'm still trying to tie-down a tighter date for the change to 'Baldwin + ODE'. I've documented an original purchase receipt, dated 7/7/71 -- for Baldwin DS--21xx-GE.

Best-- Ed Britt ••• A good fiddle tune will bring two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies. ••• Edited by - BrittDLD1 on 06:53:45. Posted -: 10:14:59 Hi, Laurence.

Baldwin never revised the casting mold for the aluminum rims after they bought the Ode Co. The cast ODE, Boulder, Colorado letters have caused endless confusion ever since. Your banjo was made in Arkansas. Without the hole in the heel, it's early. Your banjo could have been made in early 1969, and not sold until you bought it a couple of years later. Your banjo is one of the first designs that came from the buyout.

Chuck Ogsbury had a bewildering variety of different tone rings available in his aluminum rimmed banjos, and Baldwin eliminated them. They simply used the rim and installed a brass cap on the inner lip, which sounded good and was much easier to produce. The Grade 2 banjos were the first to be made in the Arkansas factory. The Grade 2 banjos were also the most consistent from first to last, with the fewest changes.

Baldwin was not in cahoots with Burns guitars- they owned Burns, and adopted the Burns geared truss rod to the banjo line after your banjo was made. The Stuka story came from early Ode catalog's description of the aircraft grade aluminum the used for the rim. If you think about it, the story really makes no sense, but it's exactly the kind of voodoo that folks like to pass on. Baldwin never changed other parts with Ode stamped on them, even when the banjos only bore the Baldwin ribbon. Anyone's guess is as good as any other as to why they continued to stamp the parts, but eventually, the Baldwin management realized that Ode was a better known name in the banjo community than Baldwin would ever be, so they dropped the Baldwin name. Regards, Stanger The pen is mightier than the pigs.

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Posted -: 10:56:57 quote: Originally posted by Laurence Diehl Hi Ed - The only serial number to be found is 310. This is not in the format you describe - prehaps I should look again? And no, there is no hole in the heel.

Photo here: Well. CONGRATULATIONS, Laurence!

You have a genuine BOULDER-made Baldwin. Probably made between late-1966, and late-1967.

(Just call it a '67.) The earliest production Baldwin I've documented, so far, is #212 -- a Style 2 standard-length 5-string openback. It was all in one piece when it sold on ebay in March 2006. By Sept 2007, the peghead had been snapped off it -- and it was back on ebay.

Bobby Thompson's Style D was #294 -- so yours might have been part of the same litter. Almost certainly in the shop at the same time. Now that I have your serial -- I found my previous file, from when you first posted it on the ODE Group. Does yours have a pearl banner?

Or the aluminum one? The 'flower' on the peghead is probably NOT factory original. (They didn't do much factory custom work on the Baldwins -- especially the Style 2's.) Best- Ed Britt ••• A good fiddle tune will bring two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies. ••• Edited by - BrittDLD1 on 11:03:55. Posted -: 14:54:40 Hi, Laurence. The move from Boulder to Arkansas was a big one, and wasn't done all at once.

It's possible that it took the Baldwin organization some time to get organized, so your banjo may have lingered in the shop, ready to ship, for some time while dealerships were established, etc. Another possibility is Baldwin using your banjo as part of their introduction process. They made some small batches that went around to NAMM shows, dealer seminars, and just shown about by their sales people, who packed samples with them. And then, it might have hung in the store where you bought it for some time after all this.


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/205170

BoneDigger - Posted - 04/22/2011: 22:18:56


I have a line on an old Baldwin Ode banjo at a local dealer and I no nothing of these banjos. It played really well and seemed to be in good shape. It was extremely LOUD. Anyway, I know nothing much about it. It had pretty good inlays and the peghead had a 'Baldwin' banner and said Ode below it. Are these generally pretty good?



Todd


The Pope - Posted - 04/22/2011: 22:43:24


They're pretty cool..


Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/22/2011: 23:12:08


Excellent banjos. Is it an aluminum shell one?


dmiller - Posted - 04/22/2011: 23:23:30






quote:

Originally posted by BoneDigger


I have a line on an old Baldwin Ode banjo at a local dealer and I no nothing of these banjos. It played really well and seemed to be in good shape. It was extremely LOUD. Anyway, I know nothing much about it. It had pretty good inlays and the peghead had a 'Baldwin' banner and said Ode below it. Are these generally pretty good?



Todd





Good grief - - - A Baldwin ODE? If you don't want it, send me a private message where it can be bought.
Baldwins have been the 'go-to-banjo' for quite a few professional pickers back in the 70's/ 80's/ etc.


jcland - Posted - 04/23/2011: 04:22:09


quote:

Originally posted by BoneDigger


I have a line on an old Baldwin Ode banjo at a local dealer and I no nothing of these banjos. It played really well and seemed to be in good shape. It was extremely LOUD. Anyway, I know nothing much about it. It had pretty good inlays and the peghead had a 'Baldwin' banner and said Ode below it. Are these generally pretty good?



Todd





I have owned a Baldwin ODE Style C since 1981 when I purchased it from Shade Tree Music in Southern California and still play it. I started on that banjo and have debated selling it before but always back out after taking it out of the case.


beegee - Posted - 04/23/2011: 04:30:43


They are no good. In fact, they are dangerous. Toxic. I have taken it upon myself to buy all of these I can to keep them away from innocent citizens. Please forward the information to me so that I can send the decontamination team to retrieve it.


eagleisland - Posted - 04/23/2011: 04:44:14


As you're learning, Baldwins/Odes are highy respected and very well-built banjos. They're also approaching a modest degree of collectability. Try to get a little more information about it - year (or serial number) and model number.



Some photos would help. Mike Stanger here on the Hangout (Stanger is his handle) is one of our resident Ode experts and can give you a lot of information.



My first banjo was an Ode 2SR - their entry level instrument, archtop with an aluminum rim. It's quite good for that, and plays beautifully. With your description of 'nice inlays' I'm guessing you're looking at a model C or D, which had a wood rim and a cast tone ring.


nickster - Posted - 04/23/2011: 06:04:51


I had an '80 style D for a few years that I wish was still with me. They are excellent banjos.


R Buck - Posted - 04/23/2011: 06:45:22


Don't listen to these guys. What do they know, they are banjo players! Send me a private message with the details on this banjo and I can end your consterntaion on this topic. Baldwin was a piano company can't be any good. So tell me where it is.


The Old Timer - Posted - 04/23/2011: 07:11:12


Bluegrass pickers liked the Baldwin/Ode Models C and D. Good flat head tone rings, nice walnut wood. Model C is nickel (maybe chrome?) plated with modest inlay pattern. Model D is gold plated, engraved, with big flashy floral inlays. These models are indeed heavy and loud. You can see Bobby Thompson playing the Model D on the old Hee Haw shows.



Fine bluegrass banjos, just be careful that you don't overpay. Shop around here on BHO, EBay, the on-line inventories of vintage dealers, and get a feel for the market pricing.


Scott Wilson - Posted - 04/23/2011: 09:39:37


Joseph, I bought a model D from Shade Tree back in '79.. my first professional-grade banjo.. a great banjo.. had it for a few years.. enjoyed it but then traded it for another banjo because I wanted something different.. been kicking myself for years now for parting with it.


arnie fleischer - Posted - 04/23/2011: 13:23:22


A Baldwin-Ode C was my first resonator banjo, bought new in May of 1973 as I was starting to move from old-timey to bluegrass playing styles. Nobody I knew had a good thing to say about new Gibsons at that time, and I was not aware of the old ones. I still have that banjo and it's as solid as the day I bought it. I really wanted the flashier D, but couldn't afford it.


BoneDigger - Posted - 04/23/2011: 17:55:21

I'm guessing this was C. It had chrome hardware with a little patination. Generally good shape though. The price is $1200 which is a little out of my range.
Todd

BANJO TONY - Posted - 04/23/2011: 18:45:17


model c is nickel plate not chrome & its a great banjo,buy it & enjoy.


BoneDigger - Posted - 04/23/2011: 19:28:46

Right, nickel. My bad.
Todd

Ronnie - Posted - 04/23/2011: 19:31:36


Probably not worth the bother. LOL bobbythompsonbanjo.com



banjoshrink.com/theheehawbanjo.htm'>banjoshrink.com/theheehawbanjo.htm


Baldwin Ode Banjo Serial Numbers List Printable

Edited by - Ronnie on 04/23/2011 19:40:33

dmiller - Posted - 04/23/2011: 19:55:41


Here's pics of both the Balwin Ode C and D models (the C is first and the D is second:




El Dobro - Posted - 04/24/2011: 06:26:53


$1200 looks like a good deal, Gruhn has one for $1650.


Randall - Posted - 04/24/2011: 06:54:27

I have one for sale. Emal me and I will send pics and details.

banjomaster1980 - Posted - 04/25/2011: 08:41:55


There are one of the best banjos out there, I have a 77 ode style 'C' and it's a monster, great volume and the tone is outstanding. The best thing about the banjo is the neck, it's fast and easy to play. it would be a great investment. But if you don't want it .........well you know the rest of the story, but Stranger is the person to talk to about them, he knows Odes.


Flathead75 - Posted - 04/25/2011: 11:12:04


I have a buddy that has had one for years. It id a cannon but has a slightly longer scale and the fingerboard is much thinner below the 5th fret than I am used to. Nothing wrong with them at all they are just different, and the are heavy and loud! I think as well that they were probably better than most 70's Gibsons being made around then.



The style c was the first professional banjo I ever had in my hands and that was the beginning of my long journey as a banjo player!


stanger - Posted - 04/26/2011: 01:45:17


Hi, Bonedigger..



I think Baldwin/Odes are pretty good- I have a few of them. You can see some pics on my home page.



One big thing about the brand is it's consistency- all of them, from first to last, sound just as you described. There is no period when there were quality problems. Before Baldwin bought the Ode company, there were a lot of models, and Baldwin pared the line down to just 4.



The Odes went through a lot of evolution very fast, so there are a lot of variations, especially in the metal-rimmed banjo series. The wood-rimmed banjos changed very little, and almost all the changes were small cosmetic differences- the peghead shape, inlay size, etc.



One thing about them is very few parts are interchangeable with Gibson or other brands. This is especially true with the lags in the neck that connect to the Ode co-ordinator rods. If any of these parts are broken in the banjo you're looking at, it will be next to impossible to find replacements. Everything on them was designed and almost completely built in-house.



$1200 is about average for a Style C in good shape. The C has the same wood, and all parts that the D has. Only the inlays and peghead shape, and plating differ.



They do feel different from a Gibson, and they have a tone quality all their own. A lot of folks liked them when they were new, and still like them now. I've played them since 1964.



regards,



stanger


John Allison - Posted - 04/26/2011: 05:57:05


Buy it, you'll like it. I have one and love the tone and playability of it.






BANJO TONY - Posted - 04/26/2011: 07:16:19


well did you buy it or what ?,if you don't want it please let the rest of us know. ps thats my 1981 ODE model c in the picture take care Tony.


Edited by - BANJO TONY on 04/26/2011 07:18:14

BoneDigger - Posted - 04/26/2011: 08:16:51

No, not yet. It is on consignment at a local shop and he may lower the price but not sure. Either way I'm not sure if I can justify another banjo right now.
Todd

Scooter Muse - Posted - 04/26/2011: 13:34:51


I have a rare ODE (before Baldwin) - 1966 originally style E until it was re-plated gold to make it an 'F' model - you can read about it on my home page. But as a couple of others have said -- don't get it - you would not like it - just let us know where it is and we'll take care of it to keep someone from being ripped off..



Scooter Muse


Sheldon - Posted - 04/26/2011: 14:38:23


Todd



If you can't justify another banjo there must be something terribly wrong.



I hope what you've got isn't catching.



Sheldon


BoneDigger - Posted - 04/26/2011: 14:40:59


Ha, well I guess I could use ONE more banjo..




Ode Banjo History


Todd


Sheldon - Posted - 04/26/2011: 15:36:57


Now you're speaking my language . . . You had me worried for a while.


Banjo

Kernel for lotus notes to outlook crack.



Sheldon


McUtsi - Posted - 04/27/2011: 04:20:48


I´m an OME player and,some day,I´d like to get myself a nice ODE..seems logical.McUtsi


Ode Banjo

BANJO TONY - Posted - 04/27/2011: 08:51:17


thank God ,I thought he was sick not wanting an other banjo

History

Ronnie - Posted - 04/28/2011: 07:49:16


Rolf Sieker- banjoshrink.com/theheehawbanjo.htm


BoneDigger - Posted - 04/28/2011: 15:10:35


Well, I went by today and looked at the Ode again. I had my own finger picks this time and had a chance to really look over it and see what it was made of. It's a nice looking banjo and played well. There were some fixable issues with it (the head was way loose, it had a cheap Grover bridge that was sagging) but it was generally good shape. Unfortunately, the owner had decided he now wants $1300 instead of $1200. No negotiating.. It is definitely a Baldwin Ode C model.



I am going to pass on this one.



Todd

Baldwin Ode Banjo Serial Numbers

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 04/28/2011: 15:20:28


Here's an opportunity to engage the BHO Banjo Liberation Front. I count about 24 contributors to this threat. If everyone forked over about 55 bucks, we could take control of this banjo as a group, sort of an exercise in musical socialism. Eric could preside over the 'banjo commune' where such instruments would reside. Bill Rogers could handle the money; never a more honest man ever handled a banjo. And we could implement a rotation of banjo resources, 'From Each According to Their Need, to Each According to their Musicality' or something like that. Lenin didn't sweat the details so I figure we, too, could make it up as we go along.


BoneDigger - Posted - 04/28/2011: 15:34:00

Well, I'm all for it! Start sending in your checks!!!
Todd

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 04/28/2011: 15:41:10


I meant I count about 24 contributors to this thread.


rebelchile - Posted - 04/29/2011: 20:22:06


quote: I just sent you a pm

Originally posted by BoneDigger


Ha, well I guess I could use ONE more banjo..





Todd






dmiller - Posted - 04/29/2011: 21:52:51


quote:

Originally posted by BoneDigger


Well, I went by today and looked at the Ode again. I had my own finger picks this time and had a chance to really look over it and see what it was made of. It's a nice looking banjo and played well. There were some fixable issues with it (the head was way loose, it had a cheap Grover bridge that was sagging) but it was generally good shape. Unfortunately, the owner had decided he now wants $1300 instead of $1200. No negotiating.. It is definitely a Baldwin Ode C model.



I am going to pass on this one.



Todd





This is interesting. Here's a guy who runs a shop, has a Baldin ODE C for sale, doesn't know jack about banjos/
doesn't care about banjos since the head was not taut/ loose tension hooks/ shop disinterest to make it 'saleable'/
no care provided to put the banjo in playable condintion - - - and yet:



Suddenly he decides it's worth 100 bucks more than previously. What happened? Did he read this thread?





It WOULD be nice to know if the Baldwin banner is made of metal, or MOP.
It WOULD be nice to know what the serial number on the inside is.
It WOULD be nice to see some pictures of it too since (as Stanger said), that banjo is in the right price range.



It would be neat if you were willing to go back to the shop to find out some more info on this ODE C,
and then let us know here at the BHO. It's understandable if you don't want to, but my curiosity's up on this one.
All Baldwin ODE's are good, and the older ones (early 70's) are especially desirable. Pre-war flatheads they're not.
The C's and the D's have their own sound with a very solid following of banjo afficianadoes far and wide,
because of how good each and every one sounds.






BoneDigger - Posted - 04/30/2011: 10:07:29

Baldwin Ode Banjo Serial Numbers

Perhaps I can accommodate that request. The banjo is in the shop on consignment so I'm not sure why the price changed.
Todd

RB-1 - Posted - 05/02/2011: 03:13:54


quote:

Originally posted by Ronnie


Rolf Sieker- banjoshrink.com/theheehawbanjo.htm





Ronnie, talking about coincidence...: Dmss app for mac.


Baldwin Ode Banjo Serial Numbers List Printable


Yesterday, I shook hands again with Edwin Herkert, the banjoplayer that played in the past with Rolf's brother Ulli.



When chatting banjo's , Bobby's, now kept by Rolf also was mentioned...



Edwin still plays his own Baldwin Ode for as long as I can remember.



He pulls a beautiful tone from it..

Baldwin Ode Banjo Serial Numbers