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miiloo - Posted - 10/08/2009: 14:02:32
When were rb-4s first available after the war? There's a retro 4 that was available in limited numbers recently, and I'm also wondering how they differ from other rb-4s. RB-4 owners, tell me how you like yours.
Thanks to all for any info.
Milo
beegee - Posted - 10/08/2009: 15:26:56
After the war the standard models were no longer offered. There may have been a few kicking around and a few floorsweeps, but they started in maybe 1947-49 (?)with the style 100, 150 and a few years later the 250.
The 1925-28 style 4 was a chrome(some may have been nickel?) 2-piece flange, mahogany banjo with concentric w/b/w rings in the resonator. Hearts & flowers inlay, rosewood fingerboard
In 1929 it was a one-piece flange, chrome plated, with multi-colored wood purfling in the resonator, made of walnut, flying eagle inlays, double-cut headstock.
The latter-years reissue RB-4 was similar to the PW 4 with walnut, chrome and flying eagle, double-cut, OPF and the retro-4 was like the 1925-28 version, sort-of, but it had the Ball-bearing type peghead and the concentric rings, but was walnut instead of mahogany with a OPF, fiddle headstock. As ageneral rule 2-piece flange banjos had fiddle-shaped headstocks and one-piece flange Mastertones had double-cut headstocks. So, it wasn't a retro-anything, just a fanciful version incorporating several features of both of the older style 4's
__________________________
"It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing." -Seneca
Edited by - beegee on 10/08/2009 15:35:56
rb4player - Posted - 10/08/2009: 15:35:36
I believe that the reissue RB-4's were nickel plated. Mine was. The Retro 4 was chrome plated.
Jim
beegee - Posted - 10/08/2009: 15:38:01
quote:
Originally posted by rb4player
I believe that the reissue RB-4's were nickel plated. Mine was. The Retro 4 was chrome plated.
Jim
The one my friend had was chrome-plated. Who knows with Gibson? __________________________ "It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing." - Seneca
miiloo - Posted - 10/08/2009: 15:38:36
Thanks much, guys.
What year is yours, Jim, and how does it sound?
rb4player - Posted - 10/08/2009: 15:51:48
Milo,
Mine was from about 1994, sounded fine but the neck was so thin as to be almost unstable. I traded it for partial credit against a prewar style 2 conversion several years back, now my favorite picking banjo, a "poor man's four."
(I also have an archtop mahogany 4, so feel OK about keeping my moniker.)
Jim
Edited by - rb4player on 10/08/2009 15:54:00
Billy Cipri - Posted - 10/08/2009: 15:54:07
Hello, Milo!
May I refer you to the 'Shopping Advice' forum here, currently and specifically to 'page 6' where you will find some very complete information including my detailed, personal owner's commentary on the 'Gibson Retro 4' limited edition banjos?
...Pursuant to your questions here...I am certain you will find the content of this particular 'thread both VERY informative and interesting!
Billy C.
Edited by - Billy Cipri on 10/08/2009 15:55:50
granada40 - Posted - 10/08/2009: 18:44:14
I think Gibson has retired both the RB-4 and the Retro 4.
Gold Star GF-100 Conversion
ProfessorBanjo - Posted - 10/08/2009: 18:53:34
I have a 93 RB-4, it's a fine banjo. Nickel, walnut, rosewood board, Kulish flathead tone ring and full flying eagle inlay. The only change I made was V2 Waverly's and a 4-hump vintage reproduction tail piece. It's a very stable banjo, I've had no problems with it.
The main thing is, to keep the main thing the main thing.
http://www.myspace.com/themississippisawyers
miiloo - Posted - 10/09/2009: 10:27:32
Billy,
Yeah, that's what I was looking for. Thanks to all for your responses.
M.
fivestring1951 - Posted - 10/09/2009: 10:38:52
Milo
I have a 1994 RB-4 - pretty much same description as ProfessorBanjo. The only thing I changed was the head (Ti-Remo) and bridge (Sullivan Old Growth). The difference I noticed was more clarity at the top end. It is a great banjo and I've had a lot of good comments about it's tone. I tried a Retro-4 at The Music Outlet in Sevierville, TN. It was a good one. But a little pricey for me. I think it was about $4,800.00, said they couldn't do any better on price because of Gibson?
Steve
The Old Timer - Posted - 10/09/2009: 12:56:58
A friend of mine has one of the reissue 4s. He likes it well enough that he won't sell it to me! He and I agree however, something is "constricting" the sound in it, sounds a bit choked back. We tried slacking the head a bit and it almost seemed as if the tension hoop was pinched by the neck/fingerboard. We couldn't get the head to slack (we were thinking the head might be too tight and were trying to tap tune it down to a G#). A beautiful instrument, and I'm confident if one could tinker with it for a while it would come right in where you'd want it.
I'd buy it at the drop of a hat if he'd sell it to me. And if someone dropped a hat...
The Old Timer
"Do you know how long it takes to charm people from Maine? They're uptight white people coated with a hard exterior made from other uptight white people." Joel Stein, TIME magazine Oct. 12, 2009
ahsn36gp - Posted - 10/09/2009: 13:55:17
I have a 97 RB4 that Bill Sullivan and Eric had Gibson make for me. It has a curly walnut neck with a brazilian figerboard and a burl overlay on the back of the peg head. The resonator is one they would have used on a style 5. Bill asked Nick Kimmons at Gibson to give it special treatment. The only change I have made is it now sports a Crowe ring. I will probably never sell this one due to the sentimental value because of the association with Bill. BTW it is a tone cannon.
Marty
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