TNCowboy - Posted - 10/03/2015:  16:03:38

I thought I'd post an unusual offering that Gruhn's has in their inventory. This is the only cutaway example that I have ever seen (traditional build). guitars.com/inventory/ja6451-1...4-cutaway

It would be interesting to hear if anyone has any history on this besides what is posted on the listing. Maybe worth a trip down to Gruhn's for a test drive........

Michael

l

Edited by - TNCowboy on 10/03/2015 16:11:04

Culloden - Posted - 10/03/2015:  16:54:00

Cut away resonator and flange and a 12" ball bearing rim. That is fascinating. I am curious what it would sound like. A very unique piece of banjo history. Thanks for sharing this. 

jonc - Posted - 10/03/2015:  18:35:30

I would like a cutaway at the other end for my knee

TNCowboy - Posted - 10/03/2015:  18:53:44

You could start a new trend Jon.

revellfa - Posted - 10/03/2015:  19:00:17

Wow. Just wow! I have to have this? Anybody want to give me $25,000? IMHO it would be worth nearly that just because it's an original Ball Bearing RB-4.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 10/03/2015:  19:03:33

quote:

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Originally posted by Culloden

 

Cut away resonator and flange and a 12" ball bearing rim. That is fascinating. I am curious what it would sound like. A very unique piece of banjo history. Thanks for sharing this. 

---

Hi Mark,

I doubt that this is the same banjo but it is the former owner Alex Magee playing.  He played this banjo "classic style" with bare fingers on gut strings (later nylon) professionally.  Excuse the title, it was a different time then.  The piece was composed by Ruby Brooks and Harry Denton circa mid 1880s.

Jolly Darkies

Joel Hooks - Posted - 10/03/2015:  19:12:05

Here is his photo from the Gibson catalog holding this banjo-- notice anything funny about the banjo?

Alex Magee

TNCowboy - Posted - 10/03/2015:  19:22:12

Thanks for the picture Joel. I couldn't seem to copy and paste that for some reason.

Michael

southerndrifter - Posted - 10/03/2015:  19:27:10

quote:

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Originally posted by Joel Hooks

 

Here is his photo from the Gibson catalog holding this banjo-- notice anything funny about the banjo?

---

I can't tell if the resonator is on, but the tailpiece is definitely missing! In the photos from Gruhn, I had doubts about the tailpiece being original. I just don't believe Gibson was using the 4-humps in 1925.

dhergert - Posted - 10/03/2015:  23:52:33

Hmmm, nice banjo. Thanks for posting!

Looks to me like aside from having the resonator off, in the picture this banjo is sporting a no-knot tailpiece of some sort. That, and actually the cutaway also, would be in line with Alex Magee being a classic banjo player. I was also halfway expecting to see an original Gibson ivoroid finger-rest on this banjo, but alas, it is not there.

Note the mods to the tube-and-plate flange also at the cutaway. A lot of thought went into this banjo.

Thanks again for the interesting post!

-- Don

Fathand - Posted - 10/04/2015:  04:26:44

Interesting that the inlays are laid out guitar style at frets 9 and 14.

TNCowboy - Posted - 10/04/2015:  07:52:26

I wonder if the catalog deadline pushed Gibson to do the promotional photo shoot before the Banjo was compete. That might explain the lack of a resonator and tailpiece. It is fascinating that they would build a one-off with all that must entail for an artist.

If I can schedule some time, I will try to head over and give a look before its scooped up; perhaps a few resonator off pics can be taken as well.

Michael

Winnieff - Posted - 10/04/2015:  08:20:03

What am I missing? Why the cutaway?

Andy

John Field - Posted - 10/04/2015:  08:38:52

I think the cutaway was installed so that Mr. Magee could finger the highest frets more easily.

prooftheory - Posted - 10/04/2015:  08:41:24

Also because it's awesome.

Winnieff - Posted - 10/04/2015:  08:46:20

That sounds logical; thanks John and Frank.

fatdaddyo6 - Posted - 10/04/2015:  09:06:27

That is a modern tailpiece on it currently

Bill Anderson - Posted - 10/04/2015:  09:56:26

The old photo with MaGee looks to me (with the long scale, 12" head combination) that the bridge is way back toward the tailpiece (more so than the Gruhn photos).
I love the banjo.
Wasn't there a cutaway Super 400 banjo in the Tsumura collection?