Goat Peak Strings - Posted - 09/20/2016:  14:11:31

We are having fun with our newly acquired TB-4. Serial number does have a TB-3 designation in banjo-philes listing, but it is clearly mahogany with concentric rings serial number 8103-10 and not messed with too much, the interior of the reso has a faint pencil serial number and the remnants of the chalk but most is gone as the interior of the reso has been lightly over sprayed as was common in 1970's work. The rim is uncut and complete with all parts and chrome hardware to boot. It's got a nice mid 70's repro 5 string neck with repro but correct head stock inlays and hearts and flowers on the fret board. I'll get some pictures up soon! Just thought I would see if anyone had any production numbers for the early 4's versus the 3's of the period. I think it is a nice piece!

csacwp - Posted - 09/20/2016:  14:21:20

Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't an early style 4 like this have nickel parts? I thought chrome plating was introduced around the time Gibson revamped their model lines in 1929.

J.Albert - Posted - 09/20/2016:  14:44:37

My 1928 #4 (originally a tenor) is chrome plated.

The original plating still looks great.

Oldtwanger - Posted - 09/20/2016:  16:16:59

quote:

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Originally posted by csacwp

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't an early style 4 like this have nickel parts? I thought chrome plating was introduced around the time Gibson revamped their model lines in 1929.

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The 1925 and 1926 Gibson Banjo catalogs described the style-4 as "heavily nickel plated.

The 1927 catalog described the style -4 as "Chromium plated metal parts, the best wearing plate known to science......"

rexhunt - Posted - 09/21/2016:  03:18:50

My 1927 4 - 8836-16 has chrome and is still pretty shiny.

Rex

Leslie R - Posted - 09/21/2016:  05:32:44

My early 1926 TB4 conversion is nickel plated. It is also listed in banjophiles as a TB3.  Resonator is most defintely mahogany, but it does not have concentric rings.  

Last night I played that banjo until midnight. It has such a sweet tone.  

Edited by - Leslie R on 09/21/2016 05:37:58

RioStat - Posted - 09/21/2016:  07:20:36

I have 1925 ball-bearing  TB3, FON 8069-73, and it is nickel-plated.

I believe the original poster of this thread is just mistaking nickel for chrome, or the hardware is not original to the banjo.

Edited by - RioStat on 09/21/2016 07:32:38