1989 Stelling Master’s Cross Five-String Resonator Banjo with Original Case

The 1989 Stelling Master’s Cross is a Virginia-built five-string resonator banjo with a fancy Claro walnut neck and resonator, an ebony fingerboard, a StewMac rim and plain nickel-plated parts. It is in excellent condition for its age and comes with its original case, also in excellent condition.

It carries a cross inlay on the peghead, an inlaid quilted maple cross inside a ring of purfling on the resonator back, and a Master’s Cross plate on the fingerboard.

In the video, Geoff Hohwald, who has been playing banjo since 1963 and wrote The Banjo Primer (over 200,000 copies sold), introduces this banjo and then plays it so you can hear it.

Who this 1989 Stelling Master’s Cross is for

This banjo is for a five-string player who wants a Virginia-built Stelling with a fancy Claro walnut neck and resonator, an ebony fingerboard and the cross inlays of the Master’s Cross model, with plain nickel-plated parts and no engraving. If you would like to talk through whether it is the right fit for your playing, call or text Geoff before you decide.

Setup

This banjo has had a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara.

How this Stelling Master’s Cross is built

The neck and resonator are fancy Claro walnut. The fingerboard is ebony rather than Ebonol. The rim is a StewMac rim.

The resonator back has an inlaid quilted maple cross surrounded by a ring of purfling. The peghead carries the Stelling name and a cross, and the fingerboard carries a Master’s Cross plate. The parts are plain nickel-plated with no engraving, and the label inside the rim reads Made in U.S.A.

Condition

This Master’s Cross is in excellent condition for its age, and the original case is in excellent condition too. The photographs show the front, the back, the peghead, the fingerboard, the inside of the rim and the inside of the resonator so you can see it for yourself.

Specifications

Brand	Stelling
Model	Master’s Cross
Year	1989
Built in	Virginia, USA (rim label: Made in U.S.A.)
Style	Five-string resonator banjo
Neck	Fancy Claro walnut
Resonator	Fancy Claro walnut, inlaid quilted maple cross inside a purfling ring
Fingerboard	Ebony
Rim	StewMac
Hardware	Plain nickel-plated, no engraving
Inlays	Cross on the peghead, Master’s Cross plate on the fingerboard
Strings	5
Handedness	Right-handed
Condition	Used, excellent condition for its age
Case	Original case, excellent condition
Setup	Professional setup by our banjo tech Tara

Shipping and questions

Shipping is free. It ships insured with FedEx, with tracking sent to you personally.

Financing is available. We offer PayPal Pay in 4 on all website orders, and PayPal Pay Later monthly payments on instruments at this price.

Questions about this banjo, or want to talk with Geoff before you decide? Call or text us at (404) 218-8580, or email [email protected]. Banjo Warehouse has been selling fine banjos since 1980, now based in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Frequently asked questions

What year is this Stelling Master’s Cross?

It is a 1989 Stelling Master’s Cross, built in Virginia, and it is in excellent condition for its age.

What woods are used on this Stelling Master’s Cross?

Fancy Claro walnut on the neck and resonator, an ebony fingerboard, and an inlaid quilted maple cross on the resonator back.

Is the hardware on this Stelling Master’s Cross plain nickel?

Yes. This one has plain nickel-plated parts with no engraving.

What rim does this Stelling have?

A StewMac rim.

Does this 1989 Stelling come with a case?

Yes. It comes with its original case, which is in excellent condition.

Has this banjo been set up?

Yes. It has had a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara.