Roland6250 - Posted - 11/17/2009:  06:34:48

Can someone tell me what the difference is between a pre-war Gibson TB and PB?

beegee - Posted - 11/17/2009:  06:54:41

The only difference is the kind of neck attached. Gibson made TB(tenor), PB(plectrum), CB(cello-banjo), RB(regular banjo-5-string), UB(Ukulele-banj0) MB(Mandolin-banjo)GB(Guitar-banjo) models. Most of these banjo models used the same pot with a differnt neck, bridge and tailpiece

A TB neck is 17 or 19 frets and a TB is usually tuned in 5ths.
A PB neck is 22 frets and a PB is usually tuned like a 5-string with a low C instead of D.


__________________________
"It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing." -Seneca

Edited by - beegee on 11/17/2009 06:55:36

JohnGP - Posted - 11/17/2009:  06:56:47

Pre-war or otherwise a PB (plectrum banjo) has a four string neck the same length as a 5 string usually 22 frets, the TB (tenor banjo) also has four strings, but a shorter neck typically with 17 or 19 frets.

John
Actually - it does get better if you pick it.

Joe Spann - Posted - 11/17/2009:  07:01:31

Hello Roland,

A Gibson TB is a "tenor banjo." It has 19 frets and four strings usually tuned in fifths (from highest to lowest) A, D, G, C. It is usually played with a flat pick and is traditionally considered more of a lead instrument. The tuning makes playing lead easier to learn. Closely voiced chords are more difficult to make with the standard tuning on a tenor banjo. It has a "bright" sound.

A Gibson PB is a "plectrum banjo." It has 22 frets and four strings tuned to a chord (from highest to lowest) D, B, G, C. It is usually played with a flat pick and is fully capable as a lead instrument, but closely voiced chords are more easily played on a plectrum because of the tuning. It has a "warmer" sound.

Both types are generally considered to be jazz instruments.

steve davis - Posted - 11/17/2009:  07:03:58

4 1/2 inches

f5loar - Posted - 11/17/2009:  07:43:06

I thought TB stood for "too bad it was not a 5 string"
The difference between a TB,PB and GB and an RB? $60,000
Go figure!

Tom Isenhour

El Dobro - Posted - 11/17/2009:  07:53:58

TB's also came with 20 fret necks.

Don
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psychobillybanjopicker - Posted - 11/17/2009:  08:53:13

(TB) Tenor Banjo SHORT neck 4strings.
(PB) Plectrum Banjo Full size neck also 4 strings

NYCJazz - Posted - 11/17/2009:  14:22:28

Plectrum is usually tuned CGBD, which is the same as 5-string banjos were usually tuned back in the "pre-war" days.

DGBD is a fairly new standard on 5-string.

Nathan

The Old Timer - Posted - 11/17/2009:  14:56:24

Around 1939 Gibson made a few "PT" banjos which were cross breeds between plectrum and tenor. Apparently they weren't very popular. I don't know how they were supposed to be tuned. Sometimes encountered in old Style 6s.

We've had a number of discussions and photos of "plectrum" banjo players who could only find 5 string banjos to buy. No problem, they left off the 5th string and used a 4 string bridge. Voila! Plectrum banjo (notably, an original flat head 5 string Mastertone in South Africa in Jim Mills' book, good photo of the orginal owner playing it plectrum style with a flat pick and no 5th string--a buddy right beside him doing the same with an old VEGA 5 string!)

We also hear sometimes about old plectrum banjos having a 5 string peg driven into the side of the neck, so it could be played as a 5 string!

One other significant difference in pre-war Gibson tenors and plectrums, at least in the mid-late 30s, once the flat head tone ring came out, Gibson tended to steer it into RBs and PBs, and more often than not would steer the older arch top tone rings to tenors. Their advertising at the time bragged on the "new tone chamber" in the RBs and PBs. Not an ironclad or guaranteed difference, but just a tendency.

The Old Timer

"Ah, my native village ... soft music ...the happy peoples sitting on their balalaikas, playing their samovars..." Daffy Duck in "Book Review"

El Dobro - Posted - 11/17/2009:  17:03:44

Maybe 1929.

Don
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The Old Timer - Posted - 11/17/2009:  18:30:50

Don you're right, I made a typo, intending to type 1930, for the PT neck.

The Old Timer

"Ah, my native village ... soft music ...the happy peoples sitting on their balalaikas, playing their samovars..." Daffy Duck in "Book Review"

El Dobro - Posted - 11/17/2009:  18:45:12

Yep Dick, I kinda figured that.

Don
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