In reading Jim Mill's wonderful new book, we learned (well, at least I did) that Earl bought himself a flathead RB3 from a sweet old lady and he used this banjo for the several months it took the Gibson factory to complete repairs on his Granada. What I'd like to know is: What happened to that RB3? Does Earl still own this "spare banjo" or does it belong to someone. One of us perhaps???
I seem to remember hearing along the way that earl had a RB 4 that he used in the early 50's for the same purpose. Has anybody else heard this? Now that I think about it I seem to remember there was a picture of him with a F/E inlay banjo taken in the 50's
Craig http://www.myspace.com/borrowedtyme2 Come along down to the barnyard lets have us a little banjer pickin Jeremiah 6:16 Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8 10:9, 10:13, 1st John 5:10-13.
Craig, The -4 Earl played was a hearts and flowers he sold to Mike Longworth. The flying eagle inlaid one was a Granada tenor conversion and the 5 string neck was made by the late Robby Robinson so I understand. It is said the RB-4 was used by Earl on Groundspeed. Eric Ellis
Thank you Eric for helping to clear the cobwebs LOL. Now that you said that I remembered Earl used that 4 to record Groundspeed and I had completely forgot about that Granada conversion though I didnt know who made the 5 string neck. You learn something new everyday
Craig http://www.myspace.com/borrowedtyme2 Come along down to the barnyard lets have us a little banjer pickin Jeremiah 6:16 Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8 10:9, 10:13, 1st John 5:10-13.
Ok, thanks. That's all fine and interesting, but what about this RB3 that Jim talks about on page 58??
-"Danjo"
I do not know who ended up with the 3 refered to in Jim,s Book. I happen to know it was the Banjo EARL was going to sell to a Very Young J D Crowe Courtesy of his Dad. Seems Lester Talked Earl into not selling the banjo. Crowe can Tell the rest of that story. It should have been told some where in the Kentucky Treasure Quite a story when told by J D when he speaks in Lester,s voice,,,,,
Earl has a message in the Flatt and Scruggs songbooks..if youre looking for a old Gibson banjo to contact him. seems to me Earl was trading and selling banjos. Then when the Vega Scruggs model came out he was trying to sell them instead.
I remember Curtis McPeake selling a flathead of Earl's back in the mid-to-late1980's that Earl sometimes played and also appears on one or two of his publicity photos from the 60's I believe. My memory is a little sketchy so I don't remember the model, but I recall there was something about it that made Curtis comment he believed it was an original flathead but that it was a bit unique and couldn't absolutely guarantee it. I can't remember what it was specifically. I do remember he was asking $6500 for it back then and it sold to a collector in Japan.
Curtis should remember it...along with every banjo Earl has probably owned.
Boy I wish I had a time machine...I'd take some of my 2009 dollars back to the 70's and buy a 5 string flathead. That's the only way I could justify spending so much. I were in position and age in the 70's, I still couldn't justify spending that kind of dough for any banjo.
Meanwhile, Jim Mills was gracious enough to respond to my question:
"...that is a question I would like to know also..this RB-3.. where is it??
I asked Earl about this.. and he said he sold it a long time ago circa..1950's, and had absolutely no idea where or to whom it went too now.."
Earl showed me 2 1930's Mastertones in the early 1960's. I don't remember exactly what they were. One was a flat top and the other an arched top. I would up buying the Vega instead and have never regretted it. Well not much!!
Shimdog, That was the Granada I was referring to in my earlier post regarding Craig's question. If I remember correctly, Curtis said it (The Granada) had a low profile flat head tone ring. I don't know if Earl ever played it much, but he had several pictures made with it. Eric Ellis
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Earl's RB3 "spare" banjo
Posted - 09/07/2009 : 11:41:41
