Darryl Hattenhauer - Posted - 09/13/2017:  16:18:46

Is there a good source for info about those Gibsons from the mid 1960s?

RioStat - Posted - 09/13/2017:  16:30:53

The RB 170  was a 5 string open-back with a brass tone hoop, usually a small diameter (9 1/2") brass tone hoop giving the banjo an "archtop" look.

The RB 180 was a long-neck 5 string open-back, with an 11" brass tone hoop, giving it the "flathead" look.

The RB 185 was a long-neck 5 string open-back, with a full-blown, cast, bell bronze flathead tone ring.

All 3 had mahogany necks, maple rims. The earlier RB 170's had nice 3 ply, brown stained maple rims, the last ones had multi-ply, black rims.

Don't know about the 180 and 185 rims.

pastorharry - Posted - 09/13/2017:  16:47:05

close, actually the rb-170 could have the hoop on the inside or outside giving it either a flathead or archtop look,(I've had both). rb-175-same animal only long neck. rb-180 long neck with mastertone ring and crown on peghead, and white bound fretboard. Rb185?? Never heard of such an animal.

Joe Connor - Posted - 09/13/2017:  17:31:56

These Gibson open-backs were obviously designed to capitalize on the Folk Boom of the late '50s and early '60s and to compete with Vega.

Before the RB-170, RB-175 and RB-180, when was the last time that Gibson had made an open-back model and what was that model?

RioStat - Posted - 09/13/2017:  18:34:02

C'mon Harry....gimme a break!!

You know I obviously meant 175 and 180, not 180 and 185!

rcc56 - Posted - 09/13/2017:  21:31:24

Just to clarify:

RB-170:  Open back, standard length neck, hoop style tone ring

RB-175:  Open back, long neck, hoop style tone ring

RB-180:  Open back, long neck, Mastertone tone ring

pastorharry - Posted - 09/14/2017:  01:57:43

quote:

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Originally posted by Joe Connor

 

These Gibson open-backs were obviously designed to capitalize on the Folk Boom of the late '50s and early '60s and to compete with Vega.

Before the RB-170, RB-175 and RB-180, when was the last time that Gibson had made an open-back model and what was that model?

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No Idea,but Buell Kazee had one, looks like possibly a trap door with the door removed. Dave Macon had several he custom ordered, open backs with dowel sticks rather than their new fangled c0-rods so he could spin them around. And yes, Scott, I knew you just miss typed,however you're dealing with an OCD banjo player and there's nothing worse !! 

Bob Smakula - Posted - 09/14/2017:  04:58:58

I have had 2 Gibson RB-Jr.s from 1924 in the last few years. These had snakehead peghead shapes, black finish, and are original openback instruments. Not trap door style.

Bob Smakula

smakula.com 

Edited by - Bob Smakula on 09/14/2017 05:00:51

mikehalloran - Posted - 09/14/2017:  09:19:56

Buell Kazee played a number of banjos but is best known for a 1923–24 trapdoor RB-3. I think his had the resonator attached and that it was closed. At least, that's how mine sounded closed. He owned at least three including a backup and one that his wife played. I saw a picture of the other two and the resonators were attached.

Mine sounded just like this - well I couldn't frail like that. Lord knows, I tried!

youtube.com/watch?v=AgBgfn9S3gw

mikehalloran - Posted - 09/14/2017:  09:41:13

>Is there a good source for info about those Gibsons from the mid 1960s?<

Here.

The RB-175 was also known as the Epiphone Campus EB-44 while the RB-180 was also sold as the Epiphone Plantation EB-188. I forget the name and model designation of the Epi version of the 170.

The RB-180/EB-188 also had a bound neck, MOP headstock logo and usually sported Grover Rotomatics (available for an upcharge on the RB-175).

The RB-175s I have seen mostly have the larger tone hoop giving them a flat head appearance but some did have the smaller hoop making them more of an arch top. The RB-170 was the reverse although my 1969 Gibson catalog shows the flat top IIRC.

Epiphones not built to catalog specs are common. Floorsweeps are quite common and I've owned many over the years.

Edited by - mikehalloran on 09/14/2017 09:44:37

pastorharry - Posted - 09/14/2017:  13:11:59

quote:

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Originally posted by Bob Smakula

 

I have had 2 Gibson RB-Jr.s from 1924 in the last few years. These had snakehead peghead shapes, black finish, and are original openback instruments. Not trap door style.

 

Bob Smakula

smakula.com 

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I don't know how I could have forgotten those RB-Jr's....I had one, good little banjo, even that early had the co-rod rather than dowel stick.No tonering, head sat on the wood rim,nice sound.