davepicks5 - Posted - 02/22/2010:  17:28:55

All

Some of you may see this banjo and have interest....


http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Pre-war-...em45f12e8ca0

I have no interest in the sale, but I know the banjo well.......

In 1964 (12 years old) my father would take me weekly to banjo lessons from Rodger Smith, exBluegrass Boy, living in Columbus Indiana. I would get the opportunity to take my lesson on this banjo for nearly two years.

Rodger did not sell the banjo to my Dad, oh how I pleaded, but later sold the banjo to Bill Banister, who purchased it for his son Roger........

Banjo worked itself back to Rodger Smith and is now looking to be sold by its present owner.......

I believe the banjo originally came out of North Carolina, likely by way of Happy Smith and Larry Richardson.

David

Axeman79 - Posted - 02/22/2010:  17:50:54

Does the dog come with the banjo?

Looks like a real nice banjo. With your history, perhaps you should buy it for old time sakes.

Axeman

backinthegame - Posted - 02/22/2010:  18:01:10

I remember that banjo! (not the dog, though..)!

John Wheat

davepicks5 - Posted - 02/22/2010:  18:06:59

John

That dog aint' no part of nothin.............to paraphrase Bill Monroe...

David

backinthegame - Posted - 02/22/2010:  18:18:44

My all time fav (in response to overhearing conversation about the Newgrass Revival): "Newgrass what? newgrass.....I hate that.....", Bill Monroe

rb4player - Posted - 02/22/2010:  18:50:50

This one may not get too many looks as the title lacks the word "banjo."

Jim

tloftis - Posted - 02/22/2010:  19:03:13

Looks nice. Anybody have an idea of what this should be worth in today's market? $4500 seems like a good price.

The Old Timer - Posted - 02/22/2010:  20:15:07

That banjo would be a steal at that opening price. I wonder if there's a reserve; somebody has to bid to see if the "reserve not met" message comes up. Last really nice 40 hole archtop Granada sale I knew about in New England was over $10,000. Before the recession. Looked just like this one. If I wasn't saving up for a #6 I'd bid on this one!

jfb - Posted - 02/23/2010:  05:18:53

Do you know who owned it in North Carolina Dave??..this one would be nice for Dave..don't you think..since it has lots of your history behind it..and you could get rid of some of that old musty folding money stuck back in the wallet..lol

davepicks5 - Posted - 02/23/2010:  06:57:41

John

back in the 60's Rodger Smith woulld sell a lot of archtop two piece flange banjos up here in Indiana .........his source was Jim Hypes, Happy Smith and Larry Richardson. They would make their way to Indiana by way of Rodger, since he was an over the road truck driver through the years.

Don't know about this one for sure, but I will ask Rodger next time I pick with him.

David

larry p - Posted - 02/23/2010:  13:55:36

I agree with rb4player-If there's some way you could re-list it and include the words 'Gibson Mastertone Banjo' in the title, I think it would get a LOT more attention, and hopefully net you more money from the sale..best wishes with it!

5stringpicker2 - Posted - 02/23/2010:  15:29:09

It's a nice one alright.

(I )===='---<::)