Fender Artist Banjo

1974 was a weird year.  Phil Lesh was fatter than Jerry Garcia, but also for a brief moment Fender was making better banjos than Gibson.  This is one of those.  You can tell they had Gibson in their cross hairs and made every part just a little nicer. Walnut tone ring, nicer headstock inlays, purfling on the front and back.  Even the headstock joint was thicker. I mean ever see a fender with fret nibs?  This has em. 

Anyway, pretty cool.  This one definitely punches above its price.   Basically a tribute to the style 4 for mastertones