notevenfound - Posted - 06/07/2022:  19:30:46

Hello all, I'm planning on selling my "Greg Rich Era" Gibson RB-250, and I would like to get you guy's input on what to price it at. I loved this banjo very much but my interest have moved on from the five string. I can't find a serial number anywhere by just looking at it but I believe there is one on the tone ring or neck. This banjo is what I and others believe to be a Greg Rich era maybe around 1994. I think it may be a 94 considering that most banjos from that year had the same matching "The Gibson" case with the number lock on it. I'm hoping to at least get 3k or high end 2k because I noticed a 94 on here going for 4200....



Some specs,

Gibson stamped Presto Tailpiece

Gibson Stamped Kulesh(?) tone ring

Lost Timber Tony Pass rim.

5 Star banjo tuners I think? I have to look again.



Ill attach some pictures and if you guys need more I can gladly post them.

Edited by - notevenfound on 06/07/2022 19:31:24

 

lightgauge - Posted - 06/07/2022:  19:40:35

Number would have been stamped inside original rim. Do you have that rim? Value will depend on how much someone likes Pass rims.

The Old Timer - Posted - 06/07/2022:  19:51:24

The Pass rim reduces the market for the banjo. Most Greg Rich Era buyers want it all original.



I've never seen an RB 250 sell for $4200. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but that seems all out of reason to me. I can only think of one dealer who attempts to get super-high prices like that.

Without the original rim and its stamped number, it's impossible to say if this is indeed a Greg Rich Era banjo, which also keeps it out of the top dollar range.



I think you will end up in the $2000s. Good luck.

Edited by - The Old Timer on 06/07/2022 19:52:17

notevenfound - Posted - 06/07/2022:  20:04:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by lightgauge

Number would have been stamped inside original rim. Do you have that rim? Value will depend on how much someone likes Pass rims.

---

I unfortunately do not have the original rim.

notevenfound - Posted - 06/07/2022:  20:06:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Old Timer

The Pass rim reduces the market for the banjo. Most Greg Rich Era buyers want it all original.



I've never seen an RB 250 sell for $4200. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but that seems all out of reason to me. I can only think of one dealer who attempts to get super-high prices like that.

Without the original rim and its stamped number, it's impossible to say if this is indeed a Greg Rich Era banjo, which also keeps it out of the top dollar range.



I think you will end up in the $2000s. Good luck.

---

I understand where you are coming from, I'm just calling it GR era based off what I got on a previous forum post I did a while back. You can find that here. banjohangout.org/archive/379905   . 

Mark59 - Posted - 06/07/2022:  20:11:33

Every RB250 Gruhn Guitars sell are around $2k...I personally wouldn't pay much more than that for one but it never hurts to try.

Old Hickory - Posted - 06/07/2022:  20:37:46

Maybe in the first year of the pandemic you could get upwards of $3000 for a post-87 RB-250. But mostly they go for $2000 to $2500 depending on condition and originality. $3000 and up is where the RB-3 lives.

A Hangout member was selling a 90s or early 2000s  250 for $2000 not too many months ago, and it didn't even sell right away.

notevenfound - Posted - 06/07/2022:  21:28:59

Thanks for all the replies guys, you will probably see this banjo pop up for sale here soon hopefully.

Alvin Conder - Posted - 06/08/2022:  06:45:26

All the above is correct. The pass rim is a great rim, but folks want an all original instrument, esp if it is a Gibson, and a Gibson from the GR era.

Your instrument is most likely a great player and a fine sounding instrument, but with that major alteration, 2,000 USD is most likely Max.

Put it on the classifieds here for 1950, and it will most likely move pretty quick.

The only 250 that would sell for close 4,000 right now would be an all original 1952-1953 RB250 in great condition. And even that is pushing it.

J.Albert - Posted - 06/08/2022:  11:02:07

OP:

"I unfortunately do not have the original rim."

Then you'd better get down to the real world with your pricing.

That's no longer "an original Gibson", Greg Rich era or not.

It probably sounds good with the Pass rim, but that doesn't mean that sound alone is going to compenate for the loss of originality. Not having the factory rim makes a big difference here.

Price?

Ask for $2,200-2,300.

Settle for $1,900-2,100.

Sorry, again, it's no longer "an original Gibson"...

Edited by - J.Albert on 06/08/2022 11:02:48

notevenfound - Posted - 06/08/2022:  15:11:17

quote:

---

Originally posted by J.Albert

OP:

"I unfortunately do not have the original rim."

Then you'd better get down to the real world with your pricing.

That's no longer "an original Gibson", Greg Rich era or not.

It probably sounds good with the Pass rim, but that doesn't mean that sound alone is going to compenate for the loss of originality. Not having the factory rim makes a big difference here.

Price?

Ask for $2,200-2,300.

Settle for $1,900-2,100.

Sorry, again, it's no longer "an original Gibson"...

---

Thank you for your input, I will probably put it for the price you mentioned. Thanks once again

Ridgerunner - Posted - 06/08/2022:  15:49:53

I once had a 70's RB-250 with a multiply rim. I replaced the rim with a Tony Pass rim and a TN 20 tone ring. The improvement in tone and clarity was amazing. When I sold the banjo the new owner wanted it all put back original. I guess many people want their Gibson banjo to be all original no matter what. Your banjo is probably a great sounding banjo but people want what they want when they buy a Gibson.

notevenfound - Posted - 06/08/2022:  16:36:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ridgerunner

I once had a 70's RB-250 with a multiply rim. I replaced the rim with a Tony Pass rim and a TN 20 tone ring. The improvement in tone and clarity was amazing. When I sold the banjo the new owner wanted it all put back original. I guess many people want their Gibson banjo to be all original no matter what. Your banjo is probably a great sounding banjo but people want what they want when they buy a Gibson.

---

Yep, I completely understand... the banjo sounds amazing. I talked to the original owner and he said he may have threw it away ??

RioStat - Posted - 06/08/2022:  17:45:09

quote:

---

Originally posted by notevenfound

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ridgerunner

I once had a 70's RB-250 with a multiply rim. I replaced the rim with a Tony Pass rim and a TN 20 tone ring. The improvement in tone and clarity was amazing. When I sold the banjo the new owner wanted it all put back original. I guess many people want their Gibson banjo to be all original no matter what. Your banjo is probably a great sounding banjo but people want what they want when they buy a Gibson.

---

Yep, I completely understand... the banjo sounds amazing. I talked to the original owner and he said he may have threw it away ??

---

That says a lot right there.....not about you, but the guy you bought the banjo from.....

notevenfound - Posted - 06/08/2022:  19:07:08

quote:

---

Originally posted by RioStat

quote:

---

Originally posted by notevenfound

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ridgerunner

I once had a 70's RB-250 with a multiply rim. I replaced the rim with a Tony Pass rim and a TN 20 tone ring. The improvement in tone and clarity was amazing. When I sold the banjo the new owner wanted it all put back original. I guess many people want their Gibson banjo to be all original no matter what. Your banjo is probably a great sounding banjo but people want what they want when they buy a Gibson.

---

Yep, I completely understand... the banjo sounds amazing. I talked to the original owner and he said he may have threw it away ??

---

That says a lot right there.....not about you, but the guy you bought the banjo from.....

---

yep... :/