Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/269247
TLG - Posted - 08/24/2013: 08:30:20
Hi,
Curious about the Gibson RB-350.
Anyone know when they were made, how many, why a new model, anybody have one, any for sale, pictures, ect. ?
BobbyE - Posted - 08/24/2013: 08:43:02
Not sure I have ever heard of a 350. Where did you hear or see one at. Given that Gibson has not made banjos for several years now am sure others will be curious about your question as well.
Bobby
BobbyE - Posted - 08/24/2013: 09:16:54
Sorry for the grammatical error. I do know better than to end a sentence with a preposition. Edit time had run out before I caught the error.
Bobby
Lou Bourbon - Posted - 08/24/2013: 09:42:07
The rare Gibson "Chicken Banjo". These were custom made for Colonel Harlan Sanders as give-away souvenirs to anyone who opened a KFC franchise.
Lou
The Old Timer - Posted - 08/24/2013: 10:01:58
They seem to have been worked up for the nation's Bicentennial.
Martin/VEGA did the V 76 banjo and the D 76 guitar for the same reason. Decorative differences only from standard models.
Ebanjo - Posted - 08/24/2013: 13:33:38
I saw one today at the Charlotte (N.C.) guitar show. They were a bicentennial version of the RB-250, with an eagle carved on back of the resonator and finished in a slightly lighter color than the -250's. They made have only been made in 1976.
Eric Ellis
TLG - Posted - 08/24/2013: 16:26:45
Yea, The "chicken" banjo.
Just curious !
Eric, one at the N.C. guitar show, how much ?
What inlay pattern, flange, tonering, ect ?
Thanks,
Tom
GPettigrew - Posted - 08/25/2013: 04:19:06
My understanding is that there was one prototype made in 1975, and 27 made in 1976 for a total of 28. They were a standard 2 pc flange , multiply rim, 250 with an eagle inlaid with wood in the reso..Very rare in original condition, but some wound up actually sounding pretty decent..Be nice to hear from some owners on here
Ebanjo - Posted - 08/25/2013: 11:48:24
Tom, Pretty much what Greg said about them. Same inlay as the two piece flange -250 and one of the flat head light weight tone rings like they (Gibson) used in the 70's. I think the one at the guitar show was priced at $2500. A friend of mine owned one and put a Steve Ryan tone ring in it and it improved it greatly sound wise (this was in 1984).
Eric Ellis
Edited by - Ebanjo on 08/25/2013 11:51:16
Lou Bourbon - Posted - 08/25/2013: 21:50:59
A few years back on Ebay, someone was selling genuine "chicken" resonators from the Gibson factory that never made it into banjos. I find the resonator to be hideous and POOR representation of American symbolism...but to each their own.
Maybe this was the "Ben Franklin" commemorative "American" banjo. Didn't he suggest the Turkey as the symbol of the USA? That sure is one turkey of a banjo!
Lou
DHutchens - Posted - 08/27/2013: 04:26:11
Yep, as has been said earlier.... Standard RB 250 of the era with a marquetry eagle and drum and flag... A pretty lame attempt to do a Bi-Centenial instrument.... They could have at least done the resonator sides and drums, fife's, the Liberty Bell, and other things like that for inlays and made it more presentable.... Guess they were selling all the banjos they needed too anyway........here is shot of one....
banjoinfo.4t.com/style350.jpg
GPettigrew - Posted - 09/19/2013: 05:48:13
nice TB in classifieds
Edited by - GPettigrew on 09/19/2013 05:49:02
bargrasspicker - Posted - 09/19/2013: 09:14:03
looks like a standard 70s 250 with a chicken
TLG - Posted - 09/19/2013: 10:12:00
I admit the eagle head looks a bit funny but if you look at the 1800's eagles some of them look similar, even worse.
I have seen this eagle head design on something somewhere.
I like the inlay & I still wouldn't mind having a 350
Tommy
