Gibson: RB-250

Submitted by david gedalecia on 1/29/2002

Where Purchased: private seller

Year Purchased: 2001
Price Paid: 1300 ($US) (bought USED)

Sound

This is a 1978 RB-250. It has a mellow but bright tone. I like it for Adcock-style passages. It's not the loudest banjo at jam sessions, but I'm not much interested in trying to "out decibel" others. Musicality is the goal, and this banjo helps to achieve this.

Sound Rating: 9

Setup

The banjo was set up after purchase by Radford Vance, formerly with Bill Monroe and now with Northwest Territory. He installed a Price tailpiece, a Scorpion bridge (11/16), and a Remo head. He also modified the action. He plays pre-war Gibsons and says that this is one of the best 250s he has played. Recently I had the frets dressed and levelled and the neck straightened by Dan Shinn at Lay's Music in Akron, and this improved the intonation and action considerably.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

The banjo was probably refinished, and this was done well. It's probably mahogany with an ebony fingerboard. The inlays are "leaves and bows" (it's a post-bowtie era 250). Fifth string sliding capo was removed (mercifully) some time in the past and some fills are visible, but the touch up was done well.

Appearance Rating: 9

Reliability

The hardware has some tarnish but is intact. The armrest was replated because of wear. Finish is in like-new condition.

Reliability Rating: 9

Customer Service

Gibson has been helpful in dating the banjo and providing information about construction.

Customer Service: 10

Components

The modifications mentioned above incorporate first-rate parts. If a pre-war tone ring came along, I might consider replacing the original one. I asked Bill Blaylock about installing one of his tone rings, but he doubted that this would improve the sound. I trust his judgment and was impressed by his candor, since he makes high-quality rings.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

I would recommend this vintage 250 at the price I paid and perhaps more. If it were stolen, I'd try to find one like it. I recently played new 250, RB-3, Granada, and expensive Scruggs Gibsons, and mine was superior in tone and playability. While this may be due to superior set up, it's also true that every banjo is "born" differently, which means that one must play an instrument before purchase to ensure a good "fit."

Overall Rating: 10