vic ...the hairstyle or the banjo ? ? Indeed...a very first for me. Wonder if that instrument actually became popular ?
AlanRatcliffe I suspect the first pic is a fake. And the vid is a home-made affair - basically a kick drum with a neck attached. A true bass banjo would weigh an absolute ton. Still an interesting concept, because you'd be able to use much higher tensions than a contrabass and would get a far more percussive sound.
Bob-Dubery There are more references to the instrument http://www.kimandmikeontheroad.com/raford_hudson.htm http://www.feves.com/banjos/ - the one shown is fashioned from a bass drum. They talk about an option of a 42 inch scale.
Bob-Dubery Ashley Hutchings played something similar when Fairport Convention made their first appearance on Top Of The Pops Though there's no photo of him playing it at any other time, so it may have been borrowed or may have been mocked up for that show.
