This was over in the "Shopping Advice" forum but I decided to post it over here as well, seeing as I just recently learned that Dale Small was inducted in to the building hall of fame. Here's the post:
Hey all, first post here.
I'm actually a guitarist, and not much of a banjo player. My great-uncle Harole (Zink; he was fairly well-known in the midwest as a banjo player) passed away a few years ago and left me his Dale Small banjo. I'm not really looking to sell it right now--I'm looking to insure it, since I live in a city apartment and thefts aren't exactly uneard of. You guys seem to know what you're talking about, so maybe you can help me out.
Album of pictures here: http://imgur.com/a/sQjBm
As you can see, it's a mini 4 string banjo (a tenor, maybe?). 22 frets, what appears to be an ebony fretboard and a mahogany neck and body. Not positive about those, and even less confident on the back wood...some sort of figured koa, maybe? Completely gold plated (there's a bit of pitting that could be polished out to look brand new), subtle abalone or MOP inlays (not sure which, leaning towards abalone). His name is engraved in to the top bout.
So, what's it worth?
Thanks everyone.