This banjo has had a very interesting life up to this point. First and foremost, it is NOT a collector piece and is NOT being sold or described as one. The description is accurate in every sense. What the banjo is can only be described as an amazing sounding, easy playing, punchy pre war that no one would balk taking to a jam, upon a stage, or into a studio with. It can be your soul mate or your second pre war banjo to take out in the elements and keep the prized puppy at home. It doesn't care it just wants to work and it works hard. The tone is unbelievable. The ease of play is incredible. As a side note, if you attended SPGMA, and came up to the Huber Banjos suite, Steve had this rim (rim only) with some chrome parts and a pre war style 4 resonator put together with a maple neck playing it from time to time and many folks saw it and were amazed. After SPGMA I now have put it to the original specs as best I could. First the rim is pre war style 3 out of the 9489 batch stamped and label in tact. The label is cut meaning a Huber HR-30 full flat head ring now replaces the original 40 hole archtop ring that was original to the banjo. I do not have the original archtop ring. There has been a hole punched in the rim to allow for a crude installation of either a pick up or what I think was internal lights added to the interior of the banjo. There are 4 tiny screw holes on the inside of the rim that obviously held the apparatus in place.
Next, the metal is all pre war with only one exception the tailpiece bracket it new. I would purchase a pre war one piece flange tailpiece bracket if one is for sale anywhere. Flange is flat hoop solid no metal excuses tailpiece is punched presto tuners are Grover pancakes 5th string has a pre war button fitted to match. The head is Huber and the bridge is also
The neck is a new Huber RB-75 with large bold Gibson script (steel guitar type found on late 75s) flur dis les (sp?) in peghead and modified leaves and bows late fingerboard inlays. Rosewood board Maple neck that matches.
Now the rest of the story. the rims as mentioned had additions including one time being painted red on outside only. I don't know why but anyway it was. The only area that was not painted was the taint area between the hoop and flange so looking at the outside it looks normal and only traces of the red remain under the flange and bottom of the rim. The inside was untouched with paint and has original finish. The resonator is a pre war resonator that was refinished by Robin Smith. It still has original finish on inside. This banjo along with the 56 Martin D-21 can be bought together for a great price if you are interested, let me know we will see what we can do!
If there are any questions, feel free to ask.