jonfinder - Posted - 04/22/2013:  16:54:33

Not mine, but hoo boy take a look at this:

ebay.com/itm/RARE-Gibson-All-A...32a372520

Edited by - jonfinder on 04/22/2013 16:55:51

RedStar - Posted - 04/22/2013:  17:00:49

Danny McKnight (banjo5string) has that listed here in the classifieds.

That thing is awesome

Mark

ejimb0 - Posted - 04/22/2013:  17:18:11

Wouldn't it be great to pull that out of a case at some jam session where nobody knew you.. Then do a terrible 1/2 speed rendition of cripple creek..... put it back in the case thank everyone and leave.

corrieman - Posted - 04/22/2013:  17:34:58

That there is one of the funniest things I've ever read on this here web site ejimbo! thanks fer the laugh!

kmwaters - Posted - 04/22/2013:  17:41:43

I agree - that is one hilarious hypothetical. It's like the guy who steps up on the first tee in $2000 worth of clothes and tops it 50 yards.

jonfinder - Posted - 04/22/2013:  17:47:29

banjobuyer.com/banjo/35875

banjohangout.org/classified/35875

here is the link to his classified ad on BHO

Edited by - jonfinder on 04/22/2013 17:57:26

Hankon5 - Posted - 04/22/2013:  23:25:47

Many years ago ..When I got a bottle cap banjo (played a year then quit), I also got a banjo book. The cover of that book was the ALL AMERICAN BANJO....I started salivating like a vampire on a blood trail,,,but $5,000 was a TON of money back then.. That axe plays itself just sitting there!!!! Maybe before I die .......? I would be scared to death that I would scratch it or even tip it over on a stand. I probably would sleep with it!!!!!!

Edited by - Hankon5 on 04/22/2013 23:27:35

ejimb0 - Posted - 04/23/2013:  01:59:42

Does anyone know anything  about the pre-war original five string  A.A.?

jonfinder - Posted - 04/23/2013:  04:14:07

earnestbanjo.com/gibson_banjo_...747-3.htm

here's Greg's site on it.

moore030 - Posted - 04/23/2013:  05:32:41

What's the picture at the 7th fret?

Brett

bargrasspicker - Posted - 04/23/2013:  11:34:10

not that i wouldnt love to have this, but i still think this is one of the gaudiest banjos ever made.

mikehalloran - Posted - 04/23/2013:  11:42:56

quote:

---

Originally posted by bargrasspicker

 

not that i wouldnt love to have this, but i still think this is one of the gaudiest banjos ever made.

---

Yes, I agree that it should be a plectrum.

bargrasspicker - Posted - 04/23/2013:  12:19:21

another question about this banjo, if 70s gibsons banjos are so hated, why is this the exception? Did they use that much different manufacturing techniques than the mastertones???

The Old Timer - Posted - 04/23/2013:  16:13:26

"Exception"? Well, they didn't make many! But they're made like the RB 250s of the 70s as far as the guts. Note that asking price isn't the same as selling price.

southerndrifter - Posted - 04/23/2013:  17:47:16

quote:

---

Originally posted by ejimb0

 

Does anyone know anything  about the pre-war original five string  A.A.?

---

I know it exists.

banjo5string - Posted - 04/23/2013:  18:00:02

It is entirely possible that the 'asking price' could end up being the 'selling price'. Only time will tell.

banjo5string - Posted - 04/23/2013:  20:30:01

As far as the 'guts', I believe this banjo has a 5 ply rim, not the 9-11 ply rim that the 70's RB-250s had. I'll have to double check to make sure though. The banjo seems heavier that a 250 from that era, leading me to believe that the ring is a bit heavier too. I really don't care to disassemble it to find out, that is unless a serious potential buyer comes along with those type of questions.

bargrasspicker - Posted - 04/24/2013:  13:55:35

if youre really wanting 10k for it it might be worth your time to look.

DHutchens - Posted - 04/24/2013:  17:15:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by ejimb0

 

Does anyone know anything  about the pre-war original five string  A.A.?

---

I know it exists.

Check out the Pickin Poster....Fingerboards...........  Yep Lynwood....... it exists....!

jonfinder - Posted - 04/24/2013:  17:19:27

DHutchens, where does one find the Pickin Poster? I found this thread:

banjohangout.org/archive/77895

Edited by - jonfinder on 04/24/2013 17:22:51

The Old Timer - Posted - 04/24/2013:  18:36:15

banjo5string, no slight intended on your banjo. If I had that money to spend, I'd buy it!

banjo5string - Posted - 04/25/2013:  07:39:41

Thanks for the compliments! 

I can't imagine what it would cost to have another one made in this day and time, if that were even possible.

mikehalloran - Posted - 04/25/2013:  07:51:44

The adage on something like this is, 'Go, find another.'

There's a part of me that says I'd like to own this. Since I no longer play and am paying off college tuitions, it is not something I can consider. I certainly don't think the price unreasonable.

It may be the only truly collectable Gibson from the 1970s.

Edited by - mikehalloran on 04/25/2013 07:53:03

bbanjoboy - Posted - 04/25/2013:  08:47:34

I had one that I sold to Smoky Mountain Guitars.. They still have it in their showcase along with a Checkerboard 6 and a Bela Voce.. pretty crazy.. a 70's alongside two prewars.. but it can definitely hold it's own as far as looks, but definitely not sound.. it sounds pretty yucky.. LOL.. I knew of another that a dealer had in CA a few years back.. sold his for $5000.. should have bought it... pretty cool banjos.. ...

BanjoLink - Posted - 04/26/2013:  09:57:26

I think the price is really fair. I would not sell mine for that, although I realize it probably is not worth what I would ask for it. Obviously it is more of a "curiosity" and collectible than a player , but I just think they are neat and a reminder of the days when that sort of stuff was "king"!

jonfinder - Posted - 04/28/2013:  08:14:57

Joe Spann's book shows that a single AA was made in the pre-war years.  Yep - that's a pic of Don Reno playing it linked above.

BanjoLink - Posted - 04/28/2013:  10:01:05

quote:

---

Originally posted by jonfinder

 

Joe Spann's book shows that a single AA was made in the pre-war years.  Yep - that's a pic of Don Reno playing it linked above.

---

You obviously are referring to an AA 5-string. I do not see a link to Don Reno playing one, but I guess you have to assume that it is not a reproduction 5-string neck. Linwood Lunsford knows where an original 5-string, but apparently the owner does not want anyone to see it and keeps it hidden away except for a few lucky ones like Linwood. 

jonfinder - Posted - 04/28/2013:  10:30:04

The link was within one the links posted above, but here it is:

s62.photobucket.com/user/renom....jpg.html

southerndrifter - Posted - 04/28/2013:  18:51:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by BanjoLink

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jonfinder

 

Joe Spann's book shows that a single AA was made in the pre-war years.  Yep - that's a pic of Don Reno playing it linked above.

---

You obviously are referring to an AA 5-string. I do not see a link to Don Reno playing one, but I guess you have to assume that it is not a reproduction 5-string neck. Linwood Lunsford knows where an original 5-string, but apparently the owner does not want anyone to see it and keeps it hidden away except for a few lucky ones like Linwood. 

---

I've just seen a photo of the banjo. The guy wouldn't even let Jim Mills see it.

1935tb-11 - Posted - 04/28/2013:  19:10:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by southerndrifter

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by BanjoLink

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jonfinder

 

Joe Spann's book shows that a single AA was made in the pre-war years.  Yep - that's a pic of Don Reno playing it linked above.

---

You obviously are referring to an AA 5-string. I do not see a link to Don Reno playing one, but I guess you have to assume that it is not a reproduction 5-string neck. Linwood Lunsford knows where an original 5-string, but apparently the owner does not want anyone to see it and keeps it hidden away except for a few lucky ones like Linwood. 

---

I've just seen a photo of the banjo. The guy wouldn't even let Jim Mills see it.

---

hey lynwood,, is this the same guy in N.C.  that i always heard had an original AA 5string ??

terry m

southerndrifter - Posted - 04/29/2013:  04:13:03

quote:

---

Originally posted by 1935tb-11

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by southerndrifter

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by BanjoLink

  

quote:

---

Originally posted by jonfinder

  

Joe Spann's book shows that a single AA was made in the pre-war years.  Yep - that's a pic of Don Reno playing it linked above.

---

You obviously are referring to an AA 5-string. I do not see a link to Don Reno playing one, but I guess you have to assume that it is not a reproduction 5-string neck. Linwood Lunsford knows where an original 5-string, but apparently the owner does not want anyone to see it and keeps it hidden away except for a few lucky ones like Linwood. 

---

I've just seen a photo of the banjo. The guy wouldn't even let Jim Mills see it.

---

hey lynwood,, is this the same guy in N.C.  that i always heard had an original AA 5string ??

 

 

terry m

 

 

---

Terry, the banjo orignally came (from the research) from the Bassett, Va - Rocky Mount, Va area. It went to it's present location sometime in the '70s and has not been seen since. That's really the info I know.

BanjoLink - Posted - 04/29/2013:  09:36:25

What's the joy of owning these old beauties if you can't share them with friends and other interested parties?

ejimb0 - Posted - 04/29/2013:  12:34:28

The joy of owning this banjo could easily be overshadowed by the commotion it would make. I think we should all get some peace from knowing that it exists, and it is probably being very well taken care of ....by a real banjo person.   

...I'd like to add that a picture of it sitting on Don Reno's lap... with Don's fingers wrapped around it ....playing it..., may be all we ever get. That is good enough for me. I don't care to see some dot.com fat cat holding it over his head ..like a trophy.....at some big New York City auction.

It is real.

s62.photobucket.com/user/renom....jpg.html

I think Don was playing "Under the Double Eagle"

Edited by - ejimb0 on 04/29/2013 12:39:22

bbanjoboy - Posted - 04/29/2013:  12:40:46

The one Don is holding is a flathead.. I was under the impression that the original AA's were all archtops? How do we know that the one Don is playing isn't a reissue? The timing of the reissues and the look of the pic would be about the same I would think?

jonfinder - Posted - 04/29/2013:  13:29:49

I thnk that the re-issues were late 70's and the pic was taken in the 60's.

mikehalloran - Posted - 04/29/2013:  14:25:09

quote:

---

Originally posted by jonfinder

 

I thnk that the re-issues were late 70's and the pic was taken in the 60's.

---

Huh?

They were announced in the 1970 catalog. I have a scan of it somewhere.

jonfinder - Posted - 04/29/2013:  14:28:40

Love to see the scan - can you post? I assumed late 70's based on the eBay auction and description (and that relatively few were made).  

bbanjoboy - Posted - 04/29/2013:  14:51:13

So is the general idea here that Don was playing an original AA Flathead?

southerndrifter - Posted - 04/29/2013:  15:15:07

I do not think Don is playing the original 5-string AA. If I'm not mistaken (and I very well could be!), Don is playing a 5-string conversion done by Johnny Whisnant.

I also may be mistaken about this, but I believe Gibson began reissuing the "fancy" banjos as far back as 1967. I have seen a Florentine from 1967, so I wouldn't be surprised if they did an AA or two also.

The prewar 5-string AA is a flathead with a 1-piece flange........both very much non-catalog for the model! It was probably assembled and shipped around 1940.

southerndrifter - Posted - 04/29/2013:  15:19:53

I went back and looked at the Reno pic again, and it could very well be the original 5-string AA! All the conversions that Whisnant did, were tube & plate flanges. The banjo Reno is holding, looks very much like a 1-piece flange to me. Also, the Gibson reissues were all tube & plate flanges. This picture could have been taken soon before the RB-AA went to it's present owner.

ejimb0 - Posted - 04/29/2013:  21:02:04

I was there, I watched Don play that banjo. I listened to him playing it. I also listened to the conversation about it. There was no question in anyone's mind at that time about the banjo's originality.

Years later when Gibson re-issued that model my thoughts were ..why would anyone pay to own such a ridiculous looking thing.

GPettigrew - Posted - 04/30/2013:  03:48:37

I know records from the 70's are vague, but does anyone have a guess as to how many of these were made during the "reissue" 70's?

Greg

ejimb0 - Posted - 04/30/2013:  12:36:05

I had a plectrum player friend in Oregon who bought a re-issue PB AA  .....brand new. He was very unhappy with it. He said it was not an eagle on the headstock ...it was a chicken.

GPettigrew - Posted - 04/30/2013:  12:46:08

Sounds like the 1976 bi centenial rb 350 with the  "chickens" on the reso   This AA looks like on REALLY nice banjo

Edited by - GPettigrew on 04/30/2013 12:49:40

f5loar - Posted - 04/30/2013:  21:19:06

This is the photos of the all original RB AA 1pc. flange flathead I took at the 1966 Roanoke Festival.  No one said who owned it but I'm remembering Mike Seeger brought it to the festival and let Sonny Osborne pick it on stage.   Reno was there that year too.

southerndrifter - Posted - 05/01/2013:  02:03:57

quote:

---

Originally posted by f5loar

 

This is the photos of the all original RB AA 1pc. flange flathead I took at the 1966 Roanoke Festival.  No one said who owned it but I'm remembering Mike Seeger brought it to the festival and let Sonny Osborne pick it on stage.   Reno was there that year too.

 

---

VERY NICE TOM! Thanks for sharing!

DHutchens - Posted - 05/01/2013:  04:52:07

The banjo belonged for many years to Bill "Two Ton" Bryson.  The serial number is from a very reliable source, 9947 - 2.  It was in very very bad condition when it was sold to MAC JUSTICE who had Richelau to do some attempt at restoration... I have not seen the banjo so I cannot say what was or was not done.  But it was a single piece flange flathead...the peghead and fingerboard appeared on the old "Pickin" poster and there was a full page story with pictures in the Philadelphia Bulletin Newspaper in the late 60's.

ejimb0 - Posted - 05/01/2013:  12:18:27

....To recoup what we have here in this thread:

the FON

three different photographs of the banjo (flat head, OPF)

an ownership trail which is agreed upon by several posters here

testimony from several members here who have seen it, heard it, ....or even had their hands on it

What more do we need?

jwold - Posted - 05/01/2013:  12:28:46

jimbo-

did you ever see the one that Casey had at Pioneer Music? I think that one was a re-issue.