davepicks5 - Posted - 08/18/2012:  15:53:48

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Brian Lappin and I were down to Steve's shop on Friday.....took my "prewar" tone video camera with me and shot some video of the Wade Mainer Granada now sitting at Steve's shop........

Here is the link to the story of how it came to be restored with original prewar Granada parts.......

youtube.com/watch?v=Rx-9RD0OYCI 

 

Many of you will have more questions than I can answer, so I will expect Steve to chime in to help out.....

Great great great banjo.   Sounds from "deep in the well"

 

By the way, Arthur Hatfield was there ...... My theory is, with all of the banjo sales coming from the conspiracy, he is ready to buy the banjo....

He sure enjoyed playing it........

David

double E - Posted - 08/18/2012:  16:42:34

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Thanks for the post Dave. I always enjoy anything about the prewars. Now I know why its hard to get through to Huber sometimes. Steve needs to find a central location for the phone. HA HA!

davepicks5 - Posted - 08/18/2012:  16:57:48

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quote:

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Originally posted by double E

Thanks for the post Dave. I always enjoy anything about the prewars. Now I know why its hard to get through to Huber sometimes. Steve needs to find a central location for the phone. HA HA!

---

 

 

EE

He got so excited when doing this video, he shaved...........AND,  his mobile phone was on the floor at his feet.....

 

David

bearface - Posted - 08/18/2012:  17:02:07

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Thanks

rb4player - Posted - 08/18/2012:  17:32:03

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Awesome! (Can't wait to hear more).

Jim

lethegoodtimesroll - Posted - 08/18/2012:  17:48:05

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Thanks for sharing...That Banjo sounds phenomenal.

banjocatman - Posted - 08/18/2012:  17:57:17

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Awesome, thanks for sharing!

jfb - Posted - 08/18/2012:  18:52:35

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Lots of nice old flathead rattle in that one there Dave....

Disco Kid - Posted - 08/18/2012:  19:10:11

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Excellent vid

The Old Timer - Posted - 08/19/2012:  08:13:30

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We're left wanting to know a lot more of "the rest of the story"!

robbyboone - Posted - 08/19/2012:  09:45:36

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quote:

---

Originally posted by The Old Timer

We're left wanting to know a lot more of "the rest of the story"!

---

Me too.......I am more than anxious to hear how an original Granada flathead ring and hardware came to be loose from it's home........those things don't/can't  happen remember!?! Banjos do not get their parts separated, accidents don't happen and there are no idiots with "banjotinkeritis" in the world that would ever take one apart. ;)

Now before I'm fried for this statement, let me say that nobody is more proud than I am that this piece of Gibson banjo history has been restored back to what it was and maybe even better, and that I myself own a flathead that has a "separated" original ring so I KNOW that things happen.......I'm just curious about the parts and where they came from and how they came to separated from the OTHER Granada.......was there a sacrificial lamb that was destroyed to make this happen? How deep are the pockets of the person(s) "restoring" this banjo and what will this "restored", now still unoriginal Holy Grail, be worth. And I use the term unoriginal from the definition(s) described and subscribed to by others on this very forum......these are NOT the parts that it left the factory with, therefore it will be in the opinion of some on this forum that it is not original and that the value would be greatly reduced.......IF there has been an amendment to this fact, please let me know for it GREATLY increases the value of MY instrument and others that I personally know of just like it.

Robby

 Robby

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Edited by - robbyboone on 08/19/2012 10:13:23

davepicks5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  10:01:13

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quote:

---

Originally posted by robbyboone

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Old Timer

We're left wanting to know a lot more of "the rest of the story"!

---

Me too.......I am more than anxious to hear how an original Granada flathead ring and hardware came to be loose from it's home........those things don't/can't  happen remember!?! Banjos do not get their parts separated, accidents don't happen and there are no idiots in the world that would ever take one apart. ;)

Robby

---

 Robby

I would speculate, when Wade sent the banjo back to Gibson...... there were idiots that did what Wade wanted them to do........ make my banjo look new, like those RB800s......Doubt if the consciousness and value of the banjo's parts including the tone ring, meant anything to Gibson at that time.....Part of the mystery.....

Maybe another conspiracy....

 

David

robbyboone - Posted - 08/19/2012:  10:25:54

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quote:

---

Originally posted by davepicks5

quote:

---

Originally posted by robbyboone

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Old Timer

We're left wanting to know a lot more of "the rest of the story"!

---

Me too.......I am more than anxious to hear how an original Granada flathead ring and hardware came to be loose from it's home........those things don't/can't  happen remember!?! Banjos do not get their parts separated, accidents don't happen and there are no idiots in the world that would ever take one apart. ;)

Robby

---

 Robby

I would speculate, when Wade sent the banjo back to Gibson...... there were idiots that did what Wade wanted them to do........ make my banjo look new, like those RB800s......Doubt if the consciousness and value of the banjo's parts including the tone ring, meant anything to Gibson at that time.....Part of the mystery.....

Maybe another conspiracy....

 

David

---

David.......this is exactly what I'm getting at.......things happen, ignorance.....not stupidity have caused many a banjo to be destroyed in one fashion or another. My other point being, why can't these FACTS be accepted and these "restored" or "composite" instruments get the respect and value that they deserve. Maybe the parts on these banjos did not leave the factory at the same time, yet they ARE original and correct parts, yet they seem to be looked upon by most as mutts and not as valuable or collectable as their "blue blood" counterparts.

 

No offense intended by my thoughts or statements........I just have to ask myself why???

Robby

bluegrassboy - Posted - 08/19/2012:  10:31:01

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quote:

---

Originally posted by robbyboone

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Old Timer

We're left wanting to know a lot more of "the rest of the story"!

---

Me too.......I am more than anxious to hear how an original Granada flathead ring and hardware came to be loose from it's home........those things don't/can't  happen remember!?! Banjos do not get their parts separated, accidents don't happen and there are no idiots with "banjotinkeritis" in the world that would ever take one apart. ;)

Now before I'm fried for this statement, let me say that nobody is more proud than I am that this piece of Gibson banjo history has been restored back to what it was and maybe even better, and that I myself own a flathead that has a "separated" original ring so I KNOW that things happen.......I'm just curious about the parts and where they came from and how they came to separated from the OTHER Granada.......was there a sacrificial lamb that was destroyed to make this happen? How deep are the pockets of the person(s) "restoring" this banjo and what will this "restored", now still unoriginal Holy Grail, be worth. And I use the term unoriginal from the definition(s) described and subscribed to by others on this very forum......these are NOT the parts that it left the factory with, therefore it will be in the opinion of some on this forum that it is not original and that the value would be greatly reduced.......IF there has been an amendment to this fact, please let me know for it GREATLY increases the value of MY instrument and others that I personally know of just like it.

Robby

 Robby

---

 im with you on this robby, when you find any old instrument, like a banjo that parts can interchange, unless its been in grandmas closet for 60 years, you dont know if the flange, rings, hooks etc have been there all this time. people you and i know have done this in the past, they might be period correct, but never came with the instrument,. but, what do i know?;)

davepicks5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  10:45:25

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Robby

 

ABSOLUTELY no offense taken  on this end.........

 

David

banjodr - Posted - 08/19/2012:  10:47:51

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I see y'all made it back. I'll get the popcorn!

that ia a hoss of a banjo and for the currious, I'm sure the details of the "donor" instruments will be included in the articles to come. Great story for sure and a total aside...great to meet Banjo Ben Clark as well

---

Edited by - banjodr on 08/19/2012 10:54:04

The Old Timer - Posted - 08/19/2012:  13:16:42

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Maybe we should all start carrying "donor cards" or indications on our driver's licenses, if we're ever gone beyond recovery, to donate our pre-war Gibson parts for the living.

wbelm - Posted - 08/19/2012:  14:29:14

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I hope my Granada on loan was not the donor. Kinda like......Do you know where your kids are? Is it time to engrave names or numbers into our metal parts like Earl did?

plunka5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  15:07:37

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To the purists-at-heart...the Wade Mainer banjo would have to be called a "parts" banjo, and the main reason would be that Wade never played it in this condition.  While on the other hand...Earl played his oiriginal tone ring, rim, and resonator throughout his career.  I am not trying to dismiss the significance of this banjo, or the quality of its parts,but like I first stated...to the purists, it would be viewed as a "parts" banjo (even those parts are pure pre-war and original to some pre-war Granada).  I think that it is magnificent that this banjo was restored to its former glory!  What a machine! 

When the banjo was for sale at Elderly, sometime back, I preposed this very scenario in a forum about the sale...what-if has turned to what now! 

 

I looked up the topic, and I ALMOST preposed the same thing....here's the archived forum thread:

facebook.com/media/set/?set=a....mp;type=1

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Edited by - plunka5 on 08/19/2012 15:11:01

impickin5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  15:28:46

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David,

Just curious. What will be or what is the asking price for the banjo? (If you know).

Ray

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Edited by - impickin5 on 08/19/2012 15:31:30

davepicks5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  15:37:44

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quote:

---

Originally posted by wbelm

I hope my Granada on loan was not the donor. Kinda like......Do you know where your kids are? Is it time to engrave names or numbers into our metal parts like Earl did?

---

 Bill

When I played your Granada back stage at Bean Blossom last fall, it looked okay to me and sounded better than Okay........ don't think you have to worry about "your" parts.....

 David

wbelm - Posted - 08/19/2012:  15:58:26

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Thanks David, I am glad you got to play it and liked it....always enjoy sharing these fine instruments with the believers. That what the old guys did for me.....Bill

wbelm - Posted - 08/19/2012:  16:32:53

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Michael, I think of a PARTS BANJO as....made from a combination of insignificant Gibson and unidentifiable repro parts. These are utility instruments of no value above that of being a useful musical instrument.

Wade Mainer's RB-Granada is NOT a "parts banjo."
If the selling price is made public,my point will be obvious. It is an historically significant instrument, the best of the best, and the "holy grail" RB-Granada. Collectibles such as Monroe's mandolin and Scrugg's banjo are still worth vast amounts of money, even though they have seen restoration and modification during their lives. Rice's guitar is going to be a great example of my point. The best of the best violins are worth millions; they likewise are modified as necessary with age and use.

As a young friend of mine would say....I arrest my case......Hopes this helps, Bill

davepicks5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  16:42:00

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quote:

---

Originally posted by impickin5

David,

Just curious. What will be or what is the asking price for the banjo? (If you know).

Ray

---

 Ray

I honestly don't know....... there was some discussion about a possible trade and cash in the works, but I did not pursue the quesiton of price........ that deal evidently was not consumated this weekend.

I need to pursue using an external microphone with the Sony video camera.... the sound I posted does not do the banjo justice.......It filled the room with tone.

David

plunka5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  18:13:47

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quote:

---

Originally posted by wbelm

Michael, I think of a PARTS BANJO as....made from a combination of insignificant Gibson and unidentifiable repro parts. These are utility instruments of no value above that of being a useful musical instrument.



Wade Mainer's RB-Granada is NOT a "parts banjo."

If the selling price is made public,my point will be obvious. It is an historically significant instrument, the best of the best, and the "holy grail" RB-Granada. Collectibles such as Monroe's mandolin and Scrugg's banjo are still worth vast amounts of money, even though they have seen restoration and modification during their lives. Rice's guitar is going to be a great example of my point. The best of the best violins are worth millions; they likewise are modified as necessary with age and use.



As a young friend of mine would say....I arrest my case......Hopes this helps, Bill

---

Bill, my point was not to upset you in any way...you are comparing it to instruments that were played in there present condition by the artist's themselves.  Wade Mainer never got to play the instrument you have now....very sad to say the least.  I am not saying the instrument is not worth a monumental sum of money, or that its tone is compromised in any way.  I just stated the facts....I was stating that to a "purist" the instrument is not factory original.  I think it is fantastic that the banjo has been restored to a condition that is "as-close" to original as possible (without knowing what truly happened to the original parts).  That is very significant unto itself.  No case to be made, and I was just stating a fact not trying to prove any point.  I hope that your sell goes well and that the banjo goes to a "player" that will be able to share the richness of both tone and history with the vying public.  

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 08/19/2012:  18:28:29

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quote:

---

Originally posted by impickin5

David,

Just curious. What will be or what is the asking price for the banjo? (If you know).

Ray

---

When the banjo was at Elderly's the price was about $100,000.

Ken

wbelm - Posted - 08/19/2012:  19:27:27

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Hi Michael, don't worry, I am not upset at all. Just interested in the topic.
My opinion about the Wade Mainer banjo is fully objective; I do not own, nor am I the party selling the banjo. I think Steve Huber is the seller.

I am sorry I don't understand your point(s) as they seems to float....hard to hit a moving target. I thought you said Wade Mainer's Granada was a "parts banjo." Couldn't swallow that. I will read your post again, maybe a light will turn on.

I am curious who are these "purist" of which you speak? Do not think I get it.

My understanding is that Wade Mainer played the original factory RB-Granada for 40 years. Then played it with the 1970's Gibson exchanged metal parts for another 30 - 40 years. So what if he never played it after this much improved restoration. Now its shortcomings have been corrected with pre-war parts as is practical nowadays.
Again, what's your point; it is still the banjo that Wade Mainer used throughout his career.....and its a 1930's RB-Granada.

The fact that Wade Mainer didn't play the banjo in its present condition is meaningless in measuring the instrument and certainly does NOT define the banjo as a PARTS BANJO. A parts banjo is defined by its parts. This has never been a parts banjo. This is my opinion.

I would love to know where the original metal parts are to this banjo........that was a crime and some folks must surely know the story. At the time the parts were switched at Gibson, the bluegrass community already knew the superiority of the prewar Gibson banjos especially the flathead tone rings. My opinion is that the original ring was taken by a craftsman at Gibson, Wade Mainer was taken advantage of, and the highly sought after prewar ring went into somebody's banjo. I have a feeling that we may learn that THE original parts were recovered for this restoration....I surely hope so.........Bill

BANJOBOB549 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  20:14:34

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WBELM,  I donated all the original parts,,You and that Stewart fellow need to take a closer look at 558-3,,,They were useless to me,,,,

plunka5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  20:57:29

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quote:

---

Originally posted by wbelm

I am sorry I don't understand your point(s) as they seems to float....hard to hit a moving target. I thought you said Wade Mainer's Granada was a "parts banjo." Couldn't swallow that. I will read your post again, maybe a light will turn on.



I am curious who are these "purist" of which you speak? Do not think I get it.



Again, what's your point; it is still the banjo that Wade Mainer used throughout his career.....and its a 1930's RB-Granada.



The fact that Wade Mainer didn't play the banjo in its present condition is meaningless in measuring the instrument and certainly does NOT define the banjo as a PARTS BANJO. A parts banjo is defined by its parts. This has never been a parts banjo. This is my opinion.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bill, Not a moving target...Earl's banjo contains the original tone ring, rim, and resonator.  Until proven otherwise, and what is common/public knowledge, to us "banjo-geeks"....Wade's banjo was for sale at Elderly's with the hardware (flange, tone ring, hooks, nuts, tailpiece, etc. with circa 1968 parts (RB-800 era).  Whosoever purchased the banjo bought (what was essentially Wade Mainer's RB-Granada with replacement parts).  The talk among the folks on the hangout then was that it was "not original", and unless the original parts have been recovered...this is still not original...whether or not pre-war parts from another "donor" Granada were used or not.  If you choose to label it original, that would not be the case unless the old parts were recovered...and that would be excellent!.  If Earl's banjo had any other pre-war flathead tone ring installed it would NOT be considered Earl's banjo.  I don't think that is a far stretch.  I for one, hope that Steve has been able to recover the misplaced/stolen/replaced parts that were original to the banjo.

The fact that Wade Mainer may not have played the Granada with its "current" parts would be very meaningful if I was in the market for such an item.  Just as in the case of any collectible, provenance, originality, rarity, and desire determine price...and not necessarily in that order.  Just my very humble and meaningless opinion.

BTW, really messed up on the link I posted...here is the correct link (not to my facebook page.

banjohangout.org/archive/93728

 

 

plunka5 - Posted - 08/19/2012:  21:06:19

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Didn't Greg Rich or Gibson replace the 60's ring with a modern era Granada tone ring....there was a slight gap between the rim and skirt while it was for sale at Elderly's I believe???

f5loar - Posted - 08/19/2012:  22:06:27

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I've not heard the price on this one but if it's not at least half the price of an all original RB G. than it's priced too high.  I didn't understand the part about having it's original frets.  80 years of Wade picking on it didn't wear out the originals?  That should be in the Guinness Book of World Records for longest lasting frets in Gibson history.    A Loar F5 or prewar D45/D28 is worth half the price if it's been refinished even if by the factory.  I would think this banjo would be in the same situation of old parts were found to replace the original metal parts.   But if they did recover the original parts to this banjo then you are talking full price.   I too think Wade was ripped off by someone at Gibson when that tone ring was changed out.  I guess you could say Gibson ripped off Earl too when they kept his old fretboard and replaced it with the bow ties. 

country frank - Posted - 08/20/2012:  04:53:49

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quote:

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Originally posted by BANJOBOB549

WBELM,  I donated all the original parts,,You and that Stewart fellow need to take a closer look at 558-3,,,They were useless to me,,,,

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Fascinating thread, fascinating story and incredible sounding banjo, Thanks for sharing.

wbelm - Posted - 08/20/2012:  06:40:38

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BANJOBOB549........ I have a call into this Stewart character, don't know too much about him.....Won't answer the telephone, but already know he's guilty........I just know it.

wbelm - Posted - 08/20/2012:  06:50:31

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Good morning Michael.....Thanks for the new post. i better understand what you are saying and agree with most of it. I just look at it differently. We agree that robbing the banjo of its original parts was wrong; and hope that Huber has recovered the original parts. If not now, I believe they will surface. I think somebody will talk, the truth be known, and somebody will make it right.........Enjoyed the discussion with you my friend, have a great day, Bill

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 08/20/2012:  06:52:53

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quote:

---

Originally posted by BANJOBOB549

WBELM,  I donated all the original parts,,You and that Stewart fellow need to take a closer look at 558-3,,,They were useless to me,,,,

---

Bob,

You all are a lot more knowledgeable about banjo's and their history. I hope you don't mind a novice asking a question.... Would you mind

telling us all how you donated parts?

What parts, where did they come from, how they came available?

I heard the 558-3 on the Greg Ernest web site and wow, what a banjo.

Thanks,

ken

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Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 08/20/2012 06:53:27

wbelm - Posted - 08/20/2012:  07:14:22

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In terms of refinishing subject.......It appears prewar flathead banjo may follow a different rule.

shuber - Posted - 08/20/2012:  11:23:53

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The Wade Mainer RB-G, FON 9530-5, is for sale at $195,000.  The heavy weight gold flathead ring originally came on a TB-6, FON 9301-31 pictured below. The TB-6 shipped from the factory on Sept. 17, 1937 to Smart's Music in Mansfield Ohio. I purchased the TB-6 from the original owner who bought it from Mr. Smart in 1938.  The original owner told me that Mr.Smart sold it to him for $60 and said " I've had a hard time selling that banjo because of the flat top head!"   The rest of the gold parts, excluding the flange, were purchased from an owner of a TB raised head Granada. The flange is an original nickel prewar flange that I gold plated.  Non of the prewar Granada flanges I could find would fit and I certainly did not want to alter the rim.  Putting this great banjo back to original has been a real treat for me, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

Steve Huber

email : customerservice@huberbanjos.com

wbelm - Posted - 08/20/2012:  12:31:57

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Thank you Steve....Your overall contribution to the Gibson banjo community is surely appreciated.....Thanks for using your talents and knowledge to do good, unlike the individual(s) that apparently for personal gain took advantage of Wade Mainer and downgraded his fine banjo. Thanks, Bill

Cabin_Hill - Posted - 08/20/2012:  13:03:33

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quote:

---

Originally posted by shuber

The Wade Mainer RB-G, FON 9530-5, is for sale at $195,000.  The heavy weight gold flathead ring originally came on a TB-6, FON 9301-31 pictured below. The TB-6 shipped from the factory on Sept. 17, 1937 to Smart's Music in Mansfield Ohio. I purchased the TB-6 from the original owner who bought it from Mr. Smart in 1938.  The original owner told me that Mr.Smart sold it to him for $60 and said " I've had a hard time selling that banjo because of the flat top head!"   The rest of the gold parts, excluding the flange, were purchased from an owner of a TB raised head Granada. The flange is an original nickel prewar flange that I gold plated.  Non of the prewar Granada flanges I could find would fit and I certainly did not want to alter the rim.  Putting this great banjo back to original has been a real treat for me, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

Steve Huber

email : customerservice@huberbanjos.com

---

I hate to ruin your day Steve but you have nothing more than a Gibson parts banjo with some of Wade Mainers original Granada parts. The ring (parts from another banjo) from the TB-6 came from FON 9301-31 not Wades banjo. Selling this banjo as Wade Mainers banjo is a false statement. 

This same topic has been batted around on the HO for years. Threads discussing: How many parts do you need to make a real prewar Gibson banjo.

What other parts are not original to Wades banjo?

 

Rick Polston - Posted - 08/20/2012:  13:25:27

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There are so many banjos out there that have been "hot rodded" I doubt there are many that are "all original" one thing I do know about the Wade Mainer banjo - when it comes to tone it HAS it! I have heard many supposed "all originals" that DON'T have it. If someone is looking for a banjo that has all the original parts it left the factory with good luck, if someone is looking for a banjo that has all pre war parts and "has it" in regards to tone - this fits the bill!

ARBanjo - Posted - 08/20/2012:  14:00:28

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Good grief! 

Glad I don't have to break it to Earl's family that all they have is an old parts banjo.  And now that I think about it, Mr. Monroe's mandolin isn't original either, since it was the recipient of a major rebuild.

wuzapicker - Posted - 08/20/2012:  14:02:43

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Well, I would suppose Wade Mainer's name and personal wear is worth a lot of money to someone. I also suppose his banjo sounds better with authentic prewar hardware. I also suppose some wealthy person will enjoy owning it and playing it. But I am quite sure that person won't be me.

I am intrigued with the odd inlay combination. I think there is one other old Granada with an FE peg head and HF fingerboard. I wonder how many copies with that arrangement will be made now?

To be sure, I don't look to instruments as capital investments. I don't want to own an instrument so precious I have to worry about thieves. I don't want to own an instrument that I have to worry might get damaged if I take it to a jam session or to festivals. That's why I own beaters. They aren't worth much money and I'm not afraid of thieves, or new dents or scrapes. Nobody cares about my instruments.

I used to know a fellow who sold a nice boat and bought a very nice, excellent used condition Martin D41 guitar. He would play that D41 at home where we spent many, many hours picking over several years. He would always cover his belt buckle when he played it so as not to scratch it. But he wouldn't ever take that D41 to any jam or festival away from home. He was afraid it would be damaged.

Instead, he bought a beater 1954 Martin D18 to use away and left the D41 to use away from home. Personally, I thought his D41 was a really nice looking guitar, but his D18 had a much, much better sound. It had that clear dry old mahogany roar.

I have enough things in life to worry over. Owing precious material objects isn't one of them.

BPorter - Posted - 08/20/2012:  14:22:47

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by wbelm

Michael, I think of a PARTS BANJO as....made from a combination of insignificant Gibson and unidentifiable repro parts. These are utility instruments of no value above that of being a useful musical instrument.



Wade Mainer's RB-Granada is NOT a "parts banjo."

If the selling price is made public,my point will be obvious. It is an historically significant instrument, the best of the best, and the "holy grail" RB-Granada. Collectibles such as Monroe's mandolin and Scrugg's banjo are still worth vast amounts of money, even though they have seen restoration and modification during their lives. Rice's guitar is going to be a great example of my point. The best of the best violins are worth millions; they likewise are modified as necessary with age and use.



As a young friend of mine would say....I arrest my case......Hopes this helps, Bill

---

 I love the semantics about a parts banjo!

 

Bill Porter

EggerRidgeBoy - Posted - 08/20/2012:  14:29:10

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As has already been noted, one could argue that Earl's banjo is a "parts banjo", too, as the only original parts are the rim, resonator, and tone ring. 

Of course, you could then argue that the tone ring is a much more important "part" than the neck, so Earl's trumps Wade's in that regard. And Earl

did play his banjo in its current configuration, while Wade never played his in its new configuration.  But I don't think that calling the banjo Steve

has for sale "Wade's banjo" is a false statement - the rim, resonator, and neck are all original, played by Wade for decades.  And he played it with

three different tone rings, so somehow the fact that it now has a fourth - prewar - tone ring doesn't matter quite that much to me.  Ideally, if it couldn't

get its original ring back,  I wish it could have an "orphaned" prewar Granada ring, not one taken from an intact style 6, but I guess that's a bit unrealistic -

it's not like such tone rings show up very often, if ever.

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Edited by - EggerRidgeBoy on 08/20/2012 14:31:40

larry p - Posted - 08/20/2012:  14:40:15

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I'm SO happy to see Wade's old Granada back in original condition and sounding so incredible: that's one of the very best sounding banjos I've yet to hear on a 'YouTube' video!

I've been well acquainted with this banjo for the better part of 30 years.

>Regarding the question of whether the banjo has the original frets: yes, it has the original frets (at least it did the last time I saw it, and if Steve Huber says it still does, then in my mind it still does. Mr. Wade wasn't extremely

aggressive with his left hand, and didn't play much beyond the 5th-7th fret.

>Regarding the question of some scoundrel at Gibson stealing the original parts from the banjo: Wade wanted his banjo to look like a new RB-800-I heard him say so myself. Back in the '60s, when the parts were first changed on

Wade's banjo, there wasn't near the interest or knowledge about the prewar banjos as there is now. What happened to Wade's banjo back then was pretty much standard procedure. Earl Scruggs knew about this procedure

when he sent his banjo back to Gibson-that's why he engraved his name on all the parts and sent along a note saying that he wanted his tone ring, rim, and resonator back. Now days it seems outrageous to think that someone

would want to trade the original gold plated hardware on a Granada etc for new hardware, but I witnessed this phenomenon first-hand when we had our music stores in North Carolina and the Granada Reissues first came out:

many times an elderly gentleman would come to the store with an old banjo and order new hardware for it, because he wanted his gold plated banjo to 'look like a gold plated banjo'. Wade said that he was in 'show business' and

that it was important that his banjo looked good for the shows. Back then 'Gibson parts were Gibson parts' to him-he wanted shiny gold parts that would look good in the show..

>When 'Elderly' had Mr. Wade's banjo for sale, it did not have the 1960s era RB-800 parts on it-those parts had been exchanged for modern Gibson Granada parts by Greg Rich, Nick Kimmons, and the crew at Gibson back in

the early 1990s. I was present when Mr. Wade saw a new Gibson Granada at 'The Tennessee Banjo Institute' back in the early '90s and said that he would like to have his 'banjo out-fitted' with those parts.

I for one do not think that Steve Huber's day has been ruined at all regarding this banjo. For starters-he's got a Gibson RB-Granada that's one of the best sounding banjos I've ever heard. In my mind that is very much

Wade Mainer's old banjo-in the very best shape I've ever seen or heard it in. The original hardware for that banjo is long gone-Huber has done the next best thing in restoring it with genuine prewar Gibson parts from the

same era that Wade's banjo is from, and fully disclosed the particulars..To say this is not Wade's banjo because it doesn't have the factory original tone ring is like saying that Earl Scruggs' banjo isn't Earl's banjo because it

doesn't have the original neck and hardware on it..If I had an extra 200K laying around I'd be ringing Steve's phone off the hook...

Cabin_Hill - Posted - 08/20/2012:  14:45:59

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quote:

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Originally posted by EggerRidgeBoy

As has already been noted, one could argue that Earl's banjo is a "parts banjo", too, as the only original parts are the rim, resonator, and tone ring. 

Of course, you could then argue that the tone ring is a much more important "part" than the neck, so Earl's trumps Wade's in that regard. And Earl

did play his banjo in its current configuration, while Wade never played his in its new configuration.  But I don't think that calling the banjo Steve

has for sale "Wade's banjo" is a false statement - the rim, resonator, and neck are all original, played by Wade for decades.  And he played it with

three different tone rings, so somehow the fact that it now has a fourth - prewar - tone ring doesn't matter quite that much to me.  Ideally, if it couldn't

get its original ring back,  I wish it could have an "orphaned" prewar Granada ring, not one taken from an intact style 6, but I guess that's a bit unrealistic -

it's not like such tone rings show up very often, if ever.

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 IMO the Wade Mainer banjo Steve has is a parts banjo not original to Wade himself. Wade never played the banjo as it stands today. I would estimate Wades banjo would be worth more in the condition Wade left it in when he last played it. Any restoration to any antique decreases the value, and we all know that.

The next time a poor banjo seller tries to sell his TB-3 with a replacement hoop and a refinished resonator, let us all remind ourselves that it's OK and still original by the standards set by Steve Huber and the Wade Mainer banjo.

wbelm - Posted - 08/20/2012:  14:50:31

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And guys wonder why the professional pickers don't participate more often in the Hangout.
Sometimes it's like listening to a bunch of rude, rotten complainers.
How is that approach working for you?
Need to cut my losses here and checkout some of these home pages............ Lots of all original postwar flathead Goodtime banjos out there.
What a fun topic this has been.
Can't wait to hear you geniuses down grade the value of the Clarence/Tony Rice guitar. Again, these guys won't be in the market for that guitar either.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 08/20/2012:  15:40:33

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quote:

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Originally posted by Cabin_Hill

quote:

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Originally posted by EggerRidgeBoy

As has already been noted, one could argue that Earl's banjo is a "parts banjo", too, as the only original parts are the rim, resonator, and tone ring. 

Of course, you could then argue that the tone ring is a much more important "part" than the neck, so Earl's trumps Wade's in that regard. And Earl

did play his banjo in its current configuration, while Wade never played his in its new configuration.  But I don't think that calling the banjo Steve

has for sale "Wade's banjo" is a false statement - the rim, resonator, and neck are all original, played by Wade for decades.  And he played it with

three different tone rings, so somehow the fact that it now has a fourth - prewar - tone ring doesn't matter quite that much to me.  Ideally, if it couldn't

get its original ring back,  I wish it could have an "orphaned" prewar Granada ring, not one taken from an intact style 6, but I guess that's a bit unrealistic -

it's not like such tone rings show up very often, if ever.

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 IMO the Wade Mainer banjo Steve has is a parts banjo not original to Wade himself. Wade never played the banjo as it stands today. I would estimate Wades banjo would be worth more in the condition Wade left it in when he last played it. Any restoration to any antique decreases the value, and we all know that.

The next time a poor banjo seller tries to sell his TB-3 with a replacement hoop and a refinished resonator, let us all remind ourselves that it's OK and still original by the standards set by Steve Huber and the Wade Mainer banjo.

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You got to understand,this is not an antique. this is a living breathing, WORKING, souped up, king of the road, Cadillac De Ville. Now if you

want to buy a original antique go buy a Vega tubaphone or something like that. You can get one all original and be happy. But this Mainer banjo

is not a shelf sitter. AND its got a great pedigree to boot.

 

"Any restoration to any antique decreases the value, and we all know that."

I want to buy all my banjos from you!

Ken

davepicks5 - Posted - 08/20/2012:  16:02:06

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EASY MEN, EASY NOW........

I shot and posted this video for all of you that would appreciate the history of the banjo, where it is presently and what the possibilities are when a guy

with the love of prewar Gibson banjos decides to do his level best to represent the instrument for its past and future.

Always good to have a healthy discussion ...... each has his own thoughts and opinions which are open to share....AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. I urge each of us not to read too much into result. If a buyer is found, he will be walking into the decision with all the informatiion clearly "on the table".

As for value, that will be determined by buyer and seller deciding upon the right price to establish the value each has placed on the instrument.

My goal in posting this video link on the Hangout is to allow each of you to enjoy "at a distance" what I was honored to see, first hand. My videos of Banjothon 2012 were presented with the same intention.

Let's not digress, but stay positive in this discussion.

Thanks for reading and pausing for a minute.....

David