Initial pics

Overlay in GC, not pulling loose
 
 

Heavy fret wear in first 5 positions
Some detail painting wear on markers
 
 

Wear on neck finish, thin coat is all that is left

heavy oxidation on hooks

Was muted in the past

Peghead has been sleeved to reverse modern tuners back to old Planets, with MOP  buttons
The tuners are dry of lube and gears feel very rough
Suggest replacements

Tone ring was not centered making neck harder to remove

Lower frets, no wear
Shim in place, Im guessing to get a better action
Neck has some uplift
Suggest heat press and compression fret, sealing wires into ivoroid

Mure shoe still in place
Some other device that was Non bacon came thru the other hole

Heavy pitting in tone ring plating
Does not affect playability
Ring has the proper inside headbearing

No refinish will be done
I will add the detail back into the gravings, and protect them with a clear coat of acrylic
 

Fingerboard cleaned, wetsanded , buffed and ready to repaint detail
 

The paint looks pinkish going on, it cures translucent red

All the Red complete, iwill add some light violet and charcoal shading before clear coats

Shadowing complete

Ready for refret
 
 

Cleaning slots of debris
They are pretty loose so it will be the standard glue in fretjob

Since I will not be removing the binding I will do a  tang cut back and insert them into the slots
Over the heel, hammered in.

off of the heel... "Jaws" compression fret press
First coat of clear over color

Ready to glue in, and dress edges

After a slight leveling to get the tops even, I am using the recrown file
Anyone that thinks new frets need no leveling have never refetted!

Adding the last coat of clear acrylic over the highlights

Exchanged the polished MOP buttons onto the new Gotoh 9/32 shaft tuners.
This fits the existing holes and also incorporates a spanner nut on front like the originals.
I chose to use plating that matches the rest of the banjo.

The old head is pulled unevenly and will be replaced

Neck completed, Big parts buffed and waxed
As soon as the small hardware is polished, it will go back together.

I will let things settle in and do the final adjustments
Frets are nice, banjo is very playable even now.
She will soon be ready to get back to Mike and make some more music.
Thanks for watching
Vinnie