DIV - Posted - 12/03/2007:  18:36:38

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If you like Maple: you can get a TB-11 or a TB-1
If you like Walnut: you can get a TB-2
what if you like Mahogany? Is there a nice convertible mahog one piece sub-MT?

Dan Varadi

rexhunt - Posted - 12/03/2007:  19:21:25

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Both maple and walnut are native to the US unlike mahogany. Mahogany isn't all that rare or expensive but it is going to cost more than native woods.

Rex

Greg Earnest - Posted - 12/03/2007:  19:45:02

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No, they didn't make a mahogany sub-Mastertone. Of course, when you're having a conversion neck made you can go with whatever wood you want and have it stained to match the pot. I'm going to Frank Neat's tomorrow to pick up a neck for my TB-1 and I had him do it in mahogany just because I'm a big believer in mahogany necks, sound-wise.

ge

The Prewar Gibson Banjo website
http://www.earnestbanjo.com

DIV - Posted - 12/03/2007:  23:00:13

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Yeah, I know you can certainly pick whatever wood you want, like when I had Robin make my TB-11 with Mahogany; I was just wondering why they avoided Mahogany.
Dan Varadi

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Edited by - DIV on 12/03/2007 23:00:57

baygawker - Posted - 12/03/2007:  23:44:03

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Of coarse it is not SUB Mastertone, but , as you probably already know ... the late 20's style 4's were mahogany and make a very nice conversion.

" i have no name - i werk fo no man" ... a blind railroad prophet

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Edited by - baygawker on 12/03/2007 23:46:45

DIV - Posted - 12/04/2007:  01:28:05

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Tell me about it! You should meet my friend, "Pete"!

Dan Varadi

Kel Kroydon - Posted - 12/04/2007:  05:47:39

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Sometimes you'll see those 11's in something besides maple. I've seen a PB-11 neck in walnut. My 34 KK-10 has a mahogany resonator and maple tenor neck.

Gary

beegee - Posted - 12/04/2007:  11:51:26

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quote:

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I was just wondering why they avoided Mahogany.

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Like rexhunt said. Consider that these banjos were built in the Great Depression. The world economy was in turmoil. Mahogany is a tropical hardwood. There are some mahogany species that grow in the US(Florida) but they aren't as nice as Honduras mahogany. Getting large logs of mahogany imported must have been expensive. Maple and walnut were readily available(still are)in Michigan and I imagine, labor and transportation played a big part in the manufacturing process. A banjo that might have cost $75 was a big chunk of money from the budget. Maple and walnut were cheap and allowed Gibson to build decent instruments at an affordable cost. Mahogany was reserved for fine furniture and upper-line banjos, is my best guess. I still marvel at the fact that most American hardwoods go into pallet-making for the transportation industry.

How Much things cost in 1935
Average Cost of new house $3,450.00
Average wages per year $1,600.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 10 cents
Average Cost for house rent $22.00 per month
A loaf of Bread 8 cents
A LB of Hamburger Meat 11 cents
Average New Car Price $625.00
Canada Dry Ginger Ale 20 Cents

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In the short rows....