Gibson RB-250
submitted 9/5/2009
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Submitter |
MrSkeptical |
Where Purchased |
Internet(E-Bay) |
Year Purchased |
2009 |
Price Paid |
1,400 ($US) (bought USED) |
Sound
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Great sound. Loud! and the notes ring all the way up the neck. I was surprised the banjo sounded as good as it did. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
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I bought the banjo used. The head was old and I replaced it with a frosted Gibson head. I made it tight and the sound that resonates from this instrument is unbelievable. It sounds almost as good as my Granada. The tones from the Granada are more mellow, but not by much. The bridge that came with this 1991 model was a S.Smith bridge. I'm not sure what brand of strings they are, but they are light strings. |
Setup Rating |
10 |
Appearance
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Very nice inlays. Not as fancy as my Granada or Gold Sparkle, but nice nonetheless. The inlays on this banjo are the ones as seen on the current RB 250 sold in stores. Nice wood finish. There was grime all around the flange and tension hoop and armrest which I cleaned to a nice finish. Not a bright silver look, but clean. The instrument took me 5 hours to change the head, replace the old strings, and clean. Five hours well invested. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
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The hardware has remained in great shape since 1991. |
Reliability Rating |
10 |
Customer Service
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I have never had to deal with Gibson. |
Customer Service |
not rated |
Components
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The instrument overall stands out and is beautiful. It isn't as flashy as some banjos, but the sound makes all of the dfference in the world. This banjo is pretty darn nice for the money I invested. This banjo sounds great when jamming and is loud! |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
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I played my friend's RB--250 which was a 1970's model and it didn't sound that good to me. I don't know if it was the way he had it set up or what the problem was. The tone was weak and muted and the instrument was not loud. My 1991 model is a whole different story and plays like a 5K dollar instrument. I would highly recommend to any player seeking a great banjo in the 1,500 dollar range to go online and find a RB-250. These are great banjos for the price. I own and have played many other brands of banjo and only the Huber and Pruchca sound as good as this banjo in my opinion. And those banjos cost thousands more. For the money, this Rb 250 takes the cake! |
Overall Rating |
10 |
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Gibson Granada (Flying Eagle)
submitted 1/26/2009
|
Submitter |
MrSkeptical |
Where Purchased |
Used |
Year Purchased |
2007 |
Price Paid |
3,500 ($US) (bought USED) |
Sound
|
The sound is full and fat. The tone quality is deep and rich and I am completely surprised at how nice the banjo sounds. I have played many popular and expensive banjos and none have come close to the sound of the 1991 Gibson Granada that I own. In my lifetime, I told myself I would never pay the money I paid for this instument. I knew there was no way the sound of a banjo was worth $3,500. I was wrong. The sound of my 1991 Gibson Granada is worth more than what I paid. I truely never thought I would say that, but it's true. The sound keeps you playing longer than what you'd normally play. I literally can't put the instrument down( not until my fingers are too tired to play on). |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
|
I bought the banjo used and it was set up by a professional. I took the pickup off the instument to have the cleanest sound I could muster. The head was a clear head and I was never big on clear heads. But the beauty of the instument stands out and so I play the banjo with the clear head. |
Setup Rating |
10 |
Appearance
|
Just like someone else said in a different review, you can almost find yourself starring at the instument instead of playing it because of its beauty. Of course, playing it is better. The gold has the right kind of look for stage performance. My inlays on the head and the binding on the neck and resonator have been antiqued and are yellowish/gold instead of white. The inlays on the fretboard are the normal perloid color. The clear head allows for viewing of the coordinator rods and the tone ring.
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Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
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The gold plating is soft and does wear with time. The gold plating on the armrest has faded some in one area. The rest of the instrument has not faded in color. |
Reliability Rating |
9 |
Customer Service
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I bought the banjo used with no warranty. I have never had to deal with Gibson. |
Customer Service |
not rated |
Components
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Most Gibson owners I know upgrade the bridge and use the brand of strings that best suit them when setting up their banjo. Salespersons from different instrument companies that sell Gibson banjos have told me the bridges should be upgraded with the new Granadas. My Granada is 18 years old and it is in excellent condition. The previous owner took great care of this instrument as I do. I believe this has much to do with why these instuments last so long and look so good. |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
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I love this banjo. I own four other banjos that I seldom play any more. I would buy another Granada banjo with the Flying Eagle Inlays if mine was stolen. It is difficult for most of us to lay out the thousands of dollars required to own one of these instruments. I've heard some none Gibson owners say "you're just paying for the name". I believed that saying until I owned my own Granada and now I know that saying is not true for me. It was worth the risk I took to spend thousands on a instrument that I wasn't sure would be worth it. Good luck with your purchase. My Granada receives a "10" score overall. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
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