Washburn OB5 Oscar Schmidt 5 String Banjo by Washburn

Banjo began as a lute-like instrument in Africa. Africans transported to the Caribbean and Latin America were reported playing banjos in the 17th and 18th centuries, before any banjo was reported in the Americas. Banjo playing expanded in the late 19th Century when classic banjo playing finger-picking styles made the banjo a popular instrument among the upper classes and social elites of the US and Britain. While five-string banjo playing retained a support among African-Americans and whites in the Piedmont and Appalachian South, five-string banjo playing declined until the explosion of Bluegrass in the post war years, powered by Earl Scruggs’ dynamic style of finger picking, Bluegrass led to the acceptance of the banjo among Southern whites. It has become the quintessential instrument of any bluegrass ensemble and had become a popular instrument during the folk revival of 1950's and 1960's. Pete Seeger played the banjo as well as the Guitar during performances.

The Oscar Schmidt OB5 banjo is one of the most affordable and respected five string banjos in the world. The OB5 features a 30-bracket cast aluminum tone ring and mahogany resonator for a pleasing bark. Also features a geared 5th string tuner, rosewood fretboard, nato neck with truss rod and a complete fretboard and resonator binding. Find out why playing the banjo is a pleasure!