1987 Stelling One-Bird Virginian, Gold-Plated, Hand-Engraved

The 1987 Stelling Virginian is a gold-plated, hand-engraved 5-string bluegrass banjo built by Geoff Stelling in his Virginia workshop during the second year of Virginian production. Stelling introduced the Virginian model in 1986, and this serial 3149 example was purchased new from Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, New York, by a single owner in Philadelphia, who kept it for nearly four decades before it came to Banjo Warehouse. The Virginian is named for Virginia’s state bird, the Cardinal, which appears as a large mother-of-pearl Cardinal inlay in the peghead, the signature feature of every One-Bird era Virginian built between 1986 and 1995. The model is identified by the mother-of-pearl VIRGINIAN inlay at the 12th fret. Under the head sits the proprietary Stelling tone ring that gives Stelling banjos their instantly recognizable cutting voice.

Gold-plated and engraved Virginians from any production year are uncommon. Gold and heavily engraved Virginians from the One-Bird era, before 1996, are rare. The gold plating on this instrument was refreshed in April 2026 by the team at Huber Banjos in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and the work turned out beautifully. Frets show very little wear. The walnut neck and resonator are in excellent condition for a banjo from 1987.

In the video above, Geoff Hohwald walks through this 1987 Stelling One-Bird Virginian, covering the Cardinal peghead inlay, the gold-plated Dogwood engraving across the flange and tailpiece, the proprietary Stelling tone ring, the April 2026 Huber gold replating, and the tonal character of the One-Bird era Virginian.

At a glance

• 1987 Stelling Virginian, serial 3149
• One-Bird era, pre-1996 production
• Large white mother-of-pearl Cardinal inlay in peghead, the One-Bird era signature feature
• Proprietary Stelling tone ring
• Model confirmed by mother-of-pearl VIRGINIAN inlay at the 12th fret
• Gold-plated hardware throughout, hand engraving on flange, tension hoop, armrest, and tailpiece
• Engraved Dogwood motif on the tailpiece, armrest, and flange, a nod to the famously rare Legend of the Dogwood Stelling
• American walnut neck and resonator
• Single owner from Philadelphia, purchased new from Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, New York
• Gold plating refreshed in April 2026 by Huber Banjos, Hendersonville, Tennessee
• Original hardshell case, key, adjustment tool, and original warranty paperwork included as provenance documents

What makes this One-Bird Virginian rare

Geoff Stelling launched the Virginian in 1986. From 1986 through 1995, every standard Virginian shipped with a single Cardinal inlay in the peghead, the feature collectors call the One-Bird era. Beginning in 1996, Stelling added a second Cardinal to the fingerboard, and the model became known as the Two-Bird Virginian. That single change is how players date a Virginian at a glance.

Layer the gold plating and the hand engraving on top of the One-Bird era, and the population gets small. Most Virginians from this period left the Stelling shop in nickel-plated, unengraved trim. A One-Bird era Virginian that is both gold-plated and heavily engraved, from the original owner, with original case and paperwork, is the kind of instrument that turns up once every several years on the open market.

The Dogwood engraving theme

The Virginia state flower is the Dogwood. Stelling engraved Virginians in this period carry a Dogwood theme across the hardware. On this 1987 example, the Dogwood appears on the tailpiece, on both ends of the armrest, and around the flange. Stelling collectors will recognize the Dogwood as the signature engraving theme of the Legend of the Dogwood, one of the most coveted custom numbered Stelling banjos ever built. The Dogwood engraving on this Virginian is executed in the same visual family. It does not make this instrument a Legend of the Dogwood, but it does place it in rare company among engraved Virginians.

Recent gold replating by Huber Banjos

The gold plating on this Virginian was refreshed in April 2026 by the team at Huber Banjos in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Huber is widely regarded as one of the finest banjo shops in the United States, and the replating work on this instrument is clean, even, and bright. The result is a banjo that wears nearly forty years of single-owner provenance with the visual presence of a current-production showpiece.

Condition, tuners, and setup

For a 1987 banjo, this Virginian is in exceptional condition. The frets show very little wear and have plenty of life left. The walnut neck and resonator are clean, with deep figure visible in the resonator grain. The gloss finish on the wood is bright and free of significant playwear. Gold hardware is fresh from the Huber replating. The original hardshell case is also in excellent condition, with the original case key included.

This Virginian is fitted with Schaller D-style tuners on the second and third strings for quick D-tuner drops, with the original Stelling planetary keys retained on the first and fourth strings. The fifth-string tuner on the heel is also the original Stelling unit. The setup is dialed in and the banjo is ready to play out of the case.

Specifications

Year	1987
Maker	Stelling Banjo Works, Virginia
Model	Virginian, One-Bird era
Serial number	3149
Neck and resonator wood	American walnut
Plating	Gold, recently refreshed by Huber Banjos
Tone ring	Proprietary Stelling tone ring
Engraving	Hand engraved hardware, Dogwood motif across tailpiece, armrest, and flange
Peghead inlay	Large white mother-of-pearl Cardinal, the One-Bird era signature feature
Truss rod cover	Personalized for the original owner, can be retained or swapped for a standard Virginian cover
Fingerboard inlay at 12th fret	Mother-of-pearl VIRGINIAN block letters confirming model
Tuners	Schaller D-style on 2nd and 3rd strings, original Stelling on 1st, 4th, and 5th
Case	Original Stelling hardshell, excellent condition
Included accessories	Original case key, original adjustment tool, original warranty documentation
Provenance	Single owner, Philadelphia, purchased new from Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, New York

Provenance

This Virginian came to Banjo Warehouse from its original owner in Philadelphia. He purchased it new from Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, New York, and kept it as his personal instrument for nearly four decades before deciding to pass it along. The case includes the original warranty documentation issued at point of sale, retained as a provenance document rather than as an active warranty. Single-owner Stellings from the One-Bird era with intact paperwork are uncommon.

Payment and financing

PayPal Pay in 4 is available at checkout on every order placed through banjowarehouse.com. Buyers preferring Affirm financing can request a Reverb listing for this instrument and complete the transaction there. We accept cash, certified check, Zelle, wire transfer, and major credit cards. Contact us by phone or email to discuss payment options for in-person pickup at our Yellow Springs, Ohio shop.

About Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is a specialty banjo retailer in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Owner Geoff Hohwald has played banjo since 1963 and has sold banjos since 1977, when he founded Banjo Warehouse. Geoff is the author of The Banjo Primer, which has sold more than 200,000 copies. Our banjo tech Tara trained at the Huber Banjo factory under Steve Huber and Bennie Boling, the same shop that performed the recent gold replating on this Virginian. Every vintage banjo we list is inspected and set up in-house before it ships.

Join the email list

Rare vintage banjos like this Virginian move quickly. Subscribers to the Banjo Warehouse email list hear about new arrivals before they go live on the website. Want to know when new banjos arrive? Join our email list: https://f02c7f60b02f11ef81a461960b153e18.eo.page/9n1z3

Frequently asked questions

What is a Stelling One-Bird Virginian?

A Stelling One-Bird Virginian is a 5-string bluegrass banjo built by Stelling Banjo Works between 1986 and 1995, identifiable by a single Cardinal inlay in the peghead. Stelling added a second Cardinal to the fingerboard beginning in 1996, creating the Two-Bird Virginian. The One-Bird era is roughly the first ten years of Virginian production.

How rare is a 1987 Stelling Virginian?

Standard 1987 Virginians appear on the used market every year or two. Gold-plated 1987 Virginians are scarce. Gold-plated and hand-engraved 1987 Virginians with original case, paperwork, and single-owner provenance are rare. Serial 3149 falls inside the early One-Bird production window, which makes this example even more uncommon.

What is the difference between a One-Bird and a Two-Bird Stelling Virginian?

The One-Bird Virginian, made from 1986 through 1995, carries a single Cardinal inlay in the peghead. The Two-Bird Virginian, made from 1996 onward, carries the same peghead Cardinal plus a second Cardinal inlaid in the fingerboard. Both models share the same Virginian rim, tone ring, and neck profile. The difference is the bird count.

What wood is the 1987 Stelling Virginian made from?

The Virginian neck and resonator on this 1987 example are American walnut, which is the standard wood for the Virginian model. Walnut gives the Virginian a warm low end and a clear, focused upper register, which is part of why the model has stayed popular for nearly forty years.

What is the Stelling tone ring on this Virginian?

The Stelling tone ring is the proprietary metal ring at the top of the rim that this Virginian uses to produce its sound. Geoff Stelling designed the tone ring used in the Virginian and other Stelling models, and it is widely credited with giving Stelling banjos their distinctive cutting tone, sustain, and balance across the strings. This 1987 example carries the original Stelling tone ring as built at the Stelling Banjo Works in Virginia.

Who replated the gold hardware?

The gold plating on this Virginian was recently refreshed by the team at Huber Banjos in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Huber is one of the most respected banjo shops in the country and the same shop where Banjo Warehouse banjo tech Tara trained.

What is included with this banjo?

The instrument ships with its original Stelling hardshell case, the original case key, the original Stelling adjustment tool, and the original warranty documentation issued at point of sale. The warranty paperwork is included as a provenance document, not as an active warranty.

What tuners are on this Stelling Virginian?

The second and third strings are fitted with Schaller D-style tuners for quick D-tuner drops. The first, fourth, and fifth strings retain the original Stelling planetary tuners. The combination is a common upgrade among working bluegrass players and was done cleanly on this instrument.