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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/200153
Newl Post - Posted - 02/20/2011: 19:17:09
I just picked up a used banjo. It has a lable "Lee Gibbs" on the headstock. It looks like a Hofner of Framus from the 60's. Can anyone tell me anything about this banjo or Lee Gibbs?
Sorry no pic right off the bat here. I've been trying to upload a pic of the headstock. But the internet is moving real slow tonight. What's that line from the Dire Straights song, "A thousand lanes of traffic, nine hundred and ninety-nine moving slow"?
beegee - Posted - 02/20/2011: 19:51:34
Lee Gibbs was Montgomery Wards house brand. They sold Kay-made guitars under the Lee Gibbs Concertone label. I imagine they must have contracted with Framus to label some banjos in the 50's-60's. The banjo you have looks like a German-made Kay-style, that used the headstock design of the earlier Kay and Old Kraftsman banjos
Newl Post - Posted - 02/20/2011: 20:40:31
Thanks beegee. Was there an actual person these were named after? I've googled the name and only found two references to the name Lee Gibbs. One was a site that mentioned Concertone guitars and then had banjos as an afterthought. The other site listed a banjo for sale, coincidently just down the street from where I live.
beegee - Posted - 02/20/2011: 21:02:50
I think it was a made-up name designed to subconsciously evoke Gibson. Montgomery Ward used to sell Gibbs-Wilcox sewing machines, but I don't know if there was a Gibbs anywhere in Montgomery Wards organization. I also have no idea if there was a popular performer by that name. I think I'll stick to the made-up name theory for now.
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