Vintage Gibson RB - 800 Mastertone Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo
Item History & Price
Reference Number: Avaluer:484751 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
Number of Strings: 5 | Exact Year: 1975 |
Brand: Gibson style | UPC: Does not apply |
Curly Maple neck with ebony fingerboard.Flying Eagle Pearl Inlay Pattern.
Marquetry next to the binding on fingerboard and resonator. This banjo has been played a lot: the gold-plating has almost completelydisappeared on the tension-hoop, tube, and armrest, still vibrant on the tone-ring.Original Gibson-stamped &nb...sp;gold and engraved geared pegs, gold and engraved armrest, gold Gibson tailpiece are all here.Original Hard Shell Case. Someone loved this banjo and there are worn frets to prove it. Well-played but no damage or repairs.
Some folks like to scrape the finish off the back of the neck in the hopes of being able to move more smoothly up and down the neck. Whether this is actually a good idea or not, apparently the single-owner of this banjo thought it would be and proceeded to do so.Typical of some 1970’s Gibson instruments, the resonator binding has shrinkage cracks, but it is all solid.
Here’s the minor mystery: The serial #501557 points to a date of manufacture in 1974-’75. Gibson shipping records show 2 RB-800 banjos shipped in 1971 and 83 shipped in 1979, for a total of 85 RB-800 banjos, Whatever year it was shipped, it’s still a rare puppy.
AS-FOUND from an estate and offered on an AS-IS and No-Returns basis [unless, of course, we have misrepresented the instrument].
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