rimn - Posted - 11/19/2009:  22:17:03

Okay, I have been out of the banjo loop for about 10 years and haven't played for that long as well. Pulled out my old banjo (stelling) and it is now to heavy for my aged back. I want to find a lighter banjo with as much quality. I'm not familiar with all the new banjos out now, but the RB-75, Crowe RB-75, and the Blackjack all looked interesting. It seems there are several RB-75 models. What are the differences between all of them and most importantly would they be a banjo you would want to hold onto for along time. The Stelling 1988 Gospel, sounds great ,but I have to ask the whole family to help bring it to me.
Any advise on the RB-75 types?

rob_jenny - Posted - 11/19/2009:  22:29:08

Slightly off track here but if its a weighty issue are you really going to gain much by going to an RB75?? Another alternative and maybe if you been out of the loop a while you maynot be aware is replacing the tone ring with a wooden one which will really lighten your load. They also sound terrific

rimn - Posted - 11/19/2009:  22:39:29

I didn't know about the wooden rims,. That may be an option. What is it with all the RB-75 models. Are they all the same core banjos but just different bell and flowers stuff

richmondgeorge - Posted - 11/20/2009:  06:30:23

I bet if you took that old Stelling to a good set up guy and put new strings, bridge and tighten the head you would fall in love with it all over again. Thats a nice Banjer.
Just my opinion though.

All the good metal tone ring banjos are pretty close in weight.

Edited by - richmondgeorge on 11/20/2009 06:32:12

dorse - Posted - 11/20/2009:  06:37:03

The Nickel Crowe RB-75 is no longer in production. Had a special tone ring that was only to be installed in Crowe 75s. However, it was not unheard of that an untouched RB-75 Crowe left the factory with another tone ring. So buyers had to look out for that. The Gibson Crowe ring was designed by J.D. Crowe and Bill Sullivan of First Quality Music and is manufactured under First Quality's supervision. The tone rings are always slightly under 3lbs. They have a dryer sound to them with less sustain and less overtones, but still have a great sparkle up the neck.

The Blackjack 75 is about the same as the Rich and Taylor J.D. Crowe model banjo that was produced in the early 90s. Inlay pattern the same, with the exception of not having the top tension style headstock cut that the R&T model had. Also, the Blackjack has a V shaped neck profile, along with copper flashed antiqued gold plating. I had heard a rumor that the Blackjack originally was to be the Mills model, but Mills struck a deal with Huber instead, so Gibson modified the banjo a bit and created the Blackjack. The Blackjack features a Crowe tone ring as well, and has some engraving that the nickel version does not.

The most recent incarnation of the RB-75 is the RB-75 VL. Which I speculate is a way for Gibson to get rid of their remaining parts of the nickel RB-75 Crowe version. They're supposed to be limited to 15 banjos and retail for 5K. They are the same as the nickel Crowe RB-75 minus Crowe's signature and the signature truss rod cover. Personally, I think the Crowe signed 75s are more valuable than the 75 VL production.

Hope this helps.

--Dorse

Surveyor - Posted - 11/20/2009:  06:42:40

If weight is the issue you might want to look into Tom Nechvilles banjos.

beegee - Posted - 11/20/2009:  07:19:03

The Stelling probably weighs in around 12 lbs. A Gibson around 11 and change. You won't lose enough burden to make a big difference by going to a Gibson. Tell you what... I'll swap you a nice lightweight Mastertone-style Kasuga banjo with aluminum tone ring and flange, even-up for that old heavy Stelling and I'll even pick up the shipping costs. Now with all the jocularity dismissed...
Sell the Stelling and use the proceeds to buy a Nechville, You'll probably like the neck, the sound and the weight

kris_rasnake - Posted - 11/20/2009:  08:40:13

You should contact Geoff Stelling about having your Gospel converted to the pass rim and wood tone ring.

Blake507 - Posted - 11/20/2009:  08:43:23

Why change banjo, why not get a better strap. There are so many new straps on the market now. I haven't tried any of them myself but one comes to mind called a NO Strap. It some kind of waste belt thingy....
I saw another one that looked over the top cool, and it was a double strapped harness and the banjo set up in front very secure.