Tony Trischka Silver Clipper Banjo

“I knew I wanted a radiused fingerboard. Having tried Noam Pikelny’s banjo with 24 frets (an extra two frets coming out over the fingerboard), I requested the same. I had always desired a resonator made of quilted maple.” - Tony Trischka

The Silver Clipper is the aesthetically slimmed down little sister to Tony Trischka's signature Golden Clipper. 

The Silver Clipper’s nickel-plated hardware, acrylic inlays, ivoroid binding, and other appointments make it less expensive than its pricier sibling, but it is still a fully professional-grade instrument, and its basic construction is largely the same as the Golden Clipper. The Silver Clipper features a radiused fingerboard with two extra frets that extend past the neck joint, a beautiful honey-stained quilted maple resonator, and a mahogany neck, as well as tapered resonator walls for an increase in projection. Deering’s -06- bell bronze tone ring, one-piece cast zinc flange, True Tone tailpiece, and Smile bridge top off the Silver Clipper to make it a stunning, professional grade banjo. 

The Silver Clipper’s fingerboard and headstock inlay have the same distinctive design, inspired by the work of Czech art nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha.

Of course, Tony’s dream instrument is not just about appearance. Given his wide-ranging music, tonal versatility was clearly part of his vision. Bill Evans at Peghead Nation says, “I’ve searched for an instrument that can really handle hard-driving bluegrass as well as pretty melodic stuff or single-string playing, and this instrument really seems to do it all, right out of the box.”

And this is what the Silver Clipper does so well. Whether you’re a Tony Trischka fan or are simply looking for a banjo that excels at traditional as well as contemporary styles, you should definitely check out the Silver Clipper.