Sasafras55 - Posted - 03/09/2008:  20:33:03

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I'm looking at an RB 150 without the D tuners in the headstock. It looks in good shape. The ad says it is a 1964. Can any one help what a banjo like this should sell for?

thanks
Gary

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Edited by - Banjoman on 03/09/2008 20:36:04

Kel Kroydon - Posted - 03/09/2008:  21:22:36

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RB-150's are kinda' rare. If this one is in real good shape it should bring $2000 - $2500 with original case.

Gary

possum1 - Posted - 03/09/2008:  21:53:49

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I think I have seen the ad you are talking about. Per the banjophiles post-war shipping totals http://banjophiles.com/Post-warShippingtotals.htm RB-150s did not make it out of the 50s. Also, the one I am thinking of has a bound headstock, Mastertone block in the neck and is a flathead. Looks more like a RB-250 to me, but I am no expert.

wrightedward - Posted - 03/09/2008:  23:32:37

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Mike how accurate is the list you have ?? And the 150's are rare ,i dont know that i have seen one ,i would love to .
Eddie
Phillipians 4:13

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Edited by - wrightedward on 03/09/2008 23:37:20

possum1 - Posted - 03/09/2008:  23:56:38

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quote:

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Originally posted by wrightedward

Mike how accurate is the list you have ?? And the 150's are rare ,i dont know that i have seen one ,i would love to .
Eddie
Phillipians 4:13

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Eddie, I'm not sure how accurate the list is as it was put together by Dan Foy http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango....asp?id=5078. I just know I have spent a lot of time reviewing his Banjophiles site. There is some great info there. As for seeing a 150, Intermountain has one on their site http://www.guitarandbanjo.com/details/4784.html which I believe is different from the one Gary was looking into.

Kel Kroydon - Posted - 03/10/2008:  05:49:40

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RB-150's look much like a RB-250 except the headstock was not bound and there was not a Mastertone block......it didn't have a true tone ring, only a tone hoop. They did have the same Bowtie inlay as the 250. I'm not sure when Gibson stopped making the 150.

wrightedward - Posted - 03/10/2008:  10:46:07

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Mike ,thanks for the pictures of the 150 ,fine looking banjo ,looks like a one piece flange ??I cant see a Gibson sticker on the rim of this one ,maybe on the side hiden from view ,Thanks again
Eddie
Phillipians 4:13

wfawley - Posted - 03/10/2008:  12:54:05

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It's always been my understanding that the Korean Conflict was the reason behind the 150......when the US Defense dept once again put regualtions on domestic use of the metals used to make the tone rings. The late 40's through 1954 Buicks had pitiful plating on interior parts....and I once had a "care and feeding" pamphlet from an old buick that specifically spelled this out....and which gave special care instructions for the chrome parts on the dash.

It would not surprise me if the 150s production ran from 49 to 54.....though perhaps you might have been able to order one later. I have also heard that when they first started shipping 150s....that anybody who ordered a 250 in that awkward period.....before the legislation.....and when Gibson actually built the banjo...got a 150, and a check for the difference in price, along with a letter explaining the difference in appointments.

This may all be considered urban legend......but it started somewhere...and most of these kinds of stories have at least some truth at the core.

Wyatt

If your friends criticize the car you drive, or the banjo you play. Get new ones.

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Edited by - wfawley on 03/10/2008 12:56:27

possum1 - Posted - 03/10/2008:  16:16:13

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quote:

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Originally posted by wfawley
(snip)

This may all be considered urban legend......but it started somewhere...and most of these kinds of stories have at least some truth at the core.

Wyatt

If your friends criticize the car you drive, or the banjo you play. Get new ones.

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That's a great story, Wyatt.
At least the shipping totals on the banjophiles site backs it up as it looks like 250's with real tone rings begin shipping in 1954.


-Michael