1983 Stelling Sunflower Archtop 5-String Banjo

This 1983 Stelling Sunflower is a raised head banjo, and that is the rare part, here at Banjo Warehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Stelling built the Sunflower as a flathead. If you owned one and wanted the raised head instead, you had to send your banjo back to the shop and trade your flathead ring in for it. Geoff Stelling would not simply sell you the ring, so very few of these left the shop, and the ones that exist are almost all still in the banjos they were fitted to. This is the first raised head Stelling I have had in a good while.

Figured wood on the neck and resonator under a sunburst, with the flame coming up through the finish on the back of the resonator. Nickel plated hardware throughout, the ornate cut flange Stelling is known for, a Stelling engraved tailpiece, Stelling stamped tuners with pearloid buttons, and a geared fifth string tuner. The fingerboard carries the pearl heart and flower inlays, with SUNFLOWER inlaid in a banner up the neck. The truss rod cover is engraved with the name Marty, the original owner, and we call it Marty around the shop. Before it ships, our banjo tech Tara has been through it completely.

Watch: Geoff on this Stelling Sunflower

Stelling Sunflower Specifications

• Brand: Stelling
• Model: Sunflower
• Year: 1983 (built in San Diego)
• Serial number: 2725
• Tone ring: raised head, also called archtop
• Hardware: nickel plated
• Flange: ornate Stelling cut flange
• Tailpiece: Stelling engraved
• Tuners: Stelling stamped with pearloid buttons, geared fifth string tuner
• Fingerboard: heart and flower pearl inlay with the SUNFLOWER banner
• Truss rod cover: engraved “Marty”
• Neck and resonator: figured wood under a sunburst
• Condition: used, vintage
• Includes: original case, from the original owner
• Made in the USA

If there is a measurement you need that is not listed here, call me at (404) 218-8580 and I will put a rule on it while you are on the phone.

Questions and Answers

What does a raised head do to the sound?

A raised head lifts the head off the rim so it makes contact only at the tone ring rather than sitting flat across the top. You get a brighter, drier, more focused note with a faster attack and less bloom behind it. It speaks quickly and it cuts. A flathead gives you more bottom end and more sustain, the fuller sound most people picture when they think of bluegrass banjo. The raised head trades some of that depth for clarity and punch. If you have only ever played flatheads, this will not sound like what you are used to, and that is the point of it.

Is a raised head Stelling actually rarer than a flathead?

Yes, and the trade-in policy is why. Stelling built these as flatheads and would not sell the raised head ring separately, so the only way to get one was to send your banjo in and give up the flathead ring. Not many people did that.

Who should buy a raised head banjo?

Somebody who already knows they like that sound, or somebody who has been curious about it and has never had a chance to own one. If you are buying your only banjo and you want the classic full bluegrass tone, a flathead serves you better. If you are adding to a collection, or you play in a setting where you need to be heard cleanly, this is the harder instrument to find of the two.

What does the name Marty mean?

It is engraved on the truss rod cover and came to us that way. Marty was the original owner. If a plain cover is more to your taste that is an easy swap, but I would leave it. A banjo that somebody cared enough about to put their name on it is a banjo that got played.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is it set up before it ships?

Our banjo tech Tara has been through this one already: head tension, bridge placement and fit, action at the nut and the twelfth fret, truss rod, tailpiece angle, and fresh strings. If you want the action set to a particular height or capo spikes installed, tell me when you order and she will build that into the setup at no charge.

Do you offer financing?

PayPal Pay Later monthly financing is available on this instrument at checkout. Afterpay is not available at this price. Affirm is available on Reverb.

How is it shipped?

Free within the United States, carefully packed in its original case, fully insured, and shipped with tracking.

What is your return policy?

You have 7 days from the date you receive the banjo to inspect it. If it is not what you expected, send it back for a full refund. This is a vintage instrument and a rare version of it, so I would rather talk it through with you first. Call me at (404) 218-8580.