Ventana Freya Pallet Flyer Banjolele
- Regular price
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$ 1,550.00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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$ 1,550.00
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Craftsmanship
This banjolele is handmade by our own Master Craftsman, Martijn Stiphout, in Aptos, California. It's named after wood used in its construction and the first name, Freya, of Martijn's baby daughter. The name Freya is inlaid with brass.
The banjolele is a four-stringed instrument with a small, banjo-type body and a fretted ukulele neck. The earliest known banjoleles were built in 1917.
The instrument reached peak popularity in the 1920s and '30s. It combines the tuning and playing style of a ukulele with the construction and distinctive tone of a banjo. The sound is similar to a uke, only louder.
This one has a 15 inch scale length. It is tuned in fourths and intonated to the octave, high G.
Each Ventana Musical Instrument comes with a matching, reclaimed wood wall mount.
Responsibility
The wood and materials used in this instrument are among the most historic and exotic in the world, and all are reclaimed. The materials were all used in some from of transportation.
The majority of the face, back and sides are made of spalted maple from pallet wood found at the Ventana workshop complex.
The head and sound board are Douglas fir from the hull of the Western Flyer, considered by many to be the most famous fishing boat in the world. The strap button is made from a square, hull nail from the Western Flyer. John Steinbeck, Ed "Doc" Ricketts and their crew sailed this 77-foot sardine boat into the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico in 1940. The following year, Steinbeck published his book, The Log from the Sea of Cortez, about the adventure. Learn more about this amazing boat and Ventana's use of its wood.
The finger board is made of dunnage used to ship materials to the Santa Cruz Guitar Company. The bridge and nut are ebony, also from the Santa Cruz Guitar Company. There is also a stripe of SCGC purfling on the bottom edge.
The various nail holes are filled with brass using a special process allowing us to ensure that all wood is put to use and remains beautiful.
Watch and listen to Martijn Stiphout explain the materials used to make this stunning instrument...
Adventure
Strum out some surf tunes and island sounds at your next post-surf bonfire or beach party!
Shipping, Customs, and Returns
Free U.S. Insured Shipping & International Shipping Details
Every order includes free insurance and free USPS First Class or UPS Ground Shipping. Of course, you can select premium options, too.
We can ship anywhere in the world that is legally permitted under U.S. law. Any customs payments, local taxes, and processing fees are the responsibility of the customer.
We generally ship products between 48 and 5 days after we receive your order. In some cases, such as with surfboards, custom orders, or custom engraved products, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss production and shipping timing.
Return Policy
Our Refund Policy is simple. We do the right thing. We trust our customers, and if you have any issues with any of our products, we'll work with you to do what's fair.
Note that for items that are printed on demand, we may not be able to take returns unless the product is defective. Still, we'll work with you to resolve your issue fairly.
Contact craftspeople@ventanasurfboards.com to discuss your return or other issues. We approve returns within 48 hours.
Any refunds will be returned via the method and way they were paid. For instance, a credit card payment will be refunded to the same credit card; a wire transfer or electronic check will be refunded to the same account from which it came, etc. A cash payment may be refunded via Venmo, bank transfer, or PayPal.
Why Print-on-Demand? An evolution of eco responsibility.
Ventana is deepening its commitment to sustainability by shifting to print-on-demand for many products. This change reduces overproduction and waste, while enabling more style and customization options. Though some suppliers may use less eco-friendly packaging, we are pushing our fulfillment partner to make changes in this area. Ventana remains transparent and dedicated to responsible sourcing, aiming to balance environmental impact with accessibility. Print-on-demand marks a new chapter in Ventana’s mission to innovate sustainably and deliver high-quality, planet-conscious products. Of course, we continue to use only reclaimed wood and bio-based resins in our handcrafted products - surfboards, bodysurfing handplanes, bookmarks, pens, and more!