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Old Hickory - Posted - 09/04/2024: 15:18:59
I can't remember if I asked about this years ago. So here goes.
In 2018 I bought a heavily-modded 1970s RB-250. Essentially a "Gibson" parts banjo. The key change was that the multi-ply rim had been replaced by an unknown 3-ply and the two-piece flange had been replaced by 1-piece, with wood added to the heel of the neck to accommodate that change.
The tone ring is almost certainly not original. Key measurements:
- 20 holes
- 48.3 ounces (3 lbs, 0.3 ounce)
- 1.174 (1-11/64) outside height
- .7815 (25/32) inside height (foot to top)
Does anyone have an idea what it could be?
Are the measurements short skirt or long skirt?
I don't know how else to describe it.
I bought the banjo from an estate reseller, so the previous owner was not available to answer any questions about it.
I've taken a profile mold and am going to send that to Eric Sullivan, who told me he can sometimes match these to rings he's had in the shop (on which he also took molds).
Thanks for any insight or guesses as to what this might be.
RDP - Posted - 09/04/2024: 22:19:35
It very well could be the rb 250 original tone ring. The new better rim fitted to that tone ring. Just an idea.
Old Hickory - Posted - 09/05/2024: 07:34:49
I won't rule that out.The modifications looked old. The neck and resonator had play wear. And the rim, when I got it, was lightly finished and had an old look to it. Can't explain.
I bought the banjo at the end of October 2018. The reseller had obtained it maybe less than a month earlier. The previous owner had died in late May. His name and address were on a luggage tag attached to the case. He was not a Hangout member and no one here responded to my post asking about him. His obituary mentioned some bands he'd played in, but there was nothing about them online so I couldn't locate any former bandmates. I could find no information on bluegrass jams near his home in Strasburg, Virginia; I thought maybe some jam member might know about the banjo.
I knew the reseller obtained the banjo from the owner's daughter in the Frederick, Maryland, area. I found her and sent one letter telling her I had her father's banjo and asking if she knew anything about what he did to it or if she knew anyone would know. I also said I would not write again. Never heard from her.
I just looked at his obituary again and see that he was a member of two different lodges. It never occurred to me 6 years ago to contact them to try to locate any fellow musicians. I'll do that today.
Thank you to the folks reading and lurking. All opinions on the tone ring welcome.
J.Albert - Posted - 09/06/2024: 11:28:49
Sometimes mysteries... just remain mysteries.
I'd give 50/50 odds the ring is the one that came from Gibson.
But beyond that, you'll probably never know.
How does it sound?
Old Hickory - Posted - 09/06/2024: 12:39:09
quote:
Originally posted by J.Albert
How does it sound?
It sounds great! Others agree.
That's why I bought the mongrel in the first place.
Then, for stupid reasons, I thought it would be neat to have a "Gibson" parts banjo made up nearly entirely of actual Gibson parts (regardless of era). Replacing the tuners and adjustable Presto tailpiece with model-correct "Gibson"-stamped parts was neutral to the sound. So was replacing the non-original (possibly metric) hooks and nuts with Prucha parts (same as used by Gibson near the end). I replaced the unknown, but probable Stew-Mac) one-piece flange for a 50s-60s Doehler, picked up here at a very good price. More significant, however, was replacing the mystery rim and tone ring with a 2000 RB-250 rim and Gibson-stamped Crowe ring.
Then I got to thinking: I bought this banjo because I liked the sound. Why am I changing out the parts that contribute the most to the sound?
So several months ago, I put the mystery rim and ring back in the banjo. I think it sounds better than the Gibson rim and Gibson (Sullivan) ring -- which I might offer up for sale, either individually or as a set (since the rim needed to be reworked to accept the ring, which surprised me).
