1929 Gibson PB-3

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Gibson Ballbearing Owners Group

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119 Members, Created 1/26/2011 -

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From bob ferrier on 5/29/2012 9:30:13 AM

I'm thinking of purchasing a 1929 Gibson PB-3 with the ballbearing tone ring. Don't know much about them but would like to know how they sound overall. Can they cut through in a dixieland setting with 3 horns, bass and drums? How much should I pay? Any insight would be welcome.

Thank you,

Bob Ferrier

Westfield, MA

2 Comments
	Fathand says: 5/29/2012 10:01:36 AM 1926 was officially the last year for Ball Bearing tone rings. I have never heard of a later one. A 1929 PB 3 would normally be an archtop tone ring. My 1925 BB played with fingerpicks and 5 string neck holds it's own against 1 trumpet, acoustic bass and several guitars. Strumming 4 strings together should help your volume some. Ball Bearing banjos tend to have a cleaner sweeter tone than flatheads or archtops but slightly less volume. An Original neck Ball bearing PB3 should run in the $2-3K range.
	Ks_5-picker says: 5/31/2012 7:03:45 AM If you can come up with the factory order # inside the rim,it will help identify the year.My '26 is one of the late ones,8415-23
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