Wes Lassiter - Posted - 06/05/2011:  18:08:04

I have a 1926 Ball Bearing TB 3 conversion. I converted it with a five string neck from that time period. The neck must have been a second for it ended up on a friends parts banjo that he sold me the neck from. It is a style three five string neck and authentic. It has made this banjo sound totally amazing. The finish is identical to the resonator of the tenor the heel cut is the same and the large L bolt that Gibson installed in that time period was intact when we changed the heel bolts to a smaller diameter. So I guess my question becomes more important with all that I just described. Thanks for you alls help

f5loar - Posted - 06/05/2011:  18:38:05

Not enough !

Wes Lassiter - Posted - 06/05/2011:  18:46:54

quote:

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Originally posted by f5loar

Not enough !

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Come on Tommy can you be more specific LOL!!1

Ronnie - Posted - 06/05/2011:  18:49:56

Roughly 1/10th of  5 string Gibsons  of the period on the market today.

Edited by - Ronnie on 06/05/2011 18:50:34

Steven M - Posted - 06/05/2011:  23:26:14

quote:

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Originally posted by Ronnie

Roughly 1/10th of  5 string Gibsons  of the period on the market today.

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LOL

Lou Bourbon - Posted - 06/05/2011:  23:59:15

To me...the most important part of a banjo is the wood and the rare examples of banjos with pre war 5 string necks always sound amazing.  Even the RB-00 necks. Unfortunately, as said above, not enough were made and those of us who have one (or more) know how special they are. Having an original 1926 Mastertone 5 string neck is a rarity indeed!

I don't know how many were made either but from Joe Spann's book we know of a DEFINITE 280ish which seems to represent less than a 1/40th of total know production BEFORE 1930.

I think it's interesting in Joe's book where he doesn't have sufficient data on the RB-jr banjo made in ONE BATCH in 1924, but I, however own the 100th banjo from that batch so I know there were at least that many. I don't believe they made many batches of banjos or more than a 100 or so.

Lou

Wes Lassiter - Posted - 06/06/2011:  04:13:52

 Hey Lou where could I find this book? That is great information..

Wes Lassiter - Posted - 06/06/2011:  04:28:56

Never mind I found it. Thanks for your information.

Lou Bourbon - Posted - 06/06/2011:  09:56:28

I coming back to correct some VERY false info I posted last night while working on memory power which has clearly failed me and gets worse as the years roll by...

My RB-jr was made in 1921...NOT 24 and was part of three batches made. I was almost right on my serial number too...I just forgot a 0 and by does that ever mean something...

Mine is 11132A-10

NOT    11132A-100

That trap door mind I had when I was 20 is more like a sieve now.

Lou

30 Granada - Posted - 06/06/2011:  10:15:37

I have an RB-JR that had a tag on it when I bought it in 1958  "1921  Gibson Snake Head  Original 5-String Banjo"  

 The number on this instrument is: 11118A-16     It has dual Co-ordinator rods and is still a great toned and easy banjo to play.  

Wes Lassiter - Posted - 06/06/2011:  11:15:46

I would love to see pictures of those old RB jrs