KD Banjer - Posted - 09/13/2025:  08:54:50

Are you interested in owning and experiencing a Gibson Mastertone banjo almost exactly as it was over 70 years ago in 1954?

Down to its original 5 string neck, this is a rare Gibson Mastertone banjo that has a great story.

The year this Gibson banjo was built- 1954- was the FIRST year that Gibson re-manufactured its Mastertone banjo after World War 2, after they stopped production for about 10 years because of a scarcity of raw materials.

There were only 62 of these five-string RB-250s made that year, and this is one of them. I would estimate that there are very very few of these that are around (or in their original condition).

This 72-year-old bowtie RB-250 has all original parts (including its archtop tone ring), except for the 5th string friction tuner (which causes all kinds of tuning and playability issues) and the bridge (I have an unmarked bridge that is in the original Gibson pink-lined case, that might be the original bridge).

It also has its original Rogers skin head, as well as the original frets on its original 5 string neck.

This is an archtop that doesn't sound like a typical archtop... After 72 years of aging and being played in essentially its original condition, it has a beautiful complex rich tone.

I really hesitate to sell this banjo, and am only doing this after long and careful thought. I am playing more guitar than banjo these days, and the banjo I am playing the most is a custom-made Sullivan gold-plated banjo with a neck made from 1904 piano upright maple). I have felt like a caretaker of this banjo, and I feel that it is my responsibility to pass this on to someone who will take care of it as carefully as I have so that it can retain its excellent original condition, and later, when the time comes, to be passed along to another generation of banjo pickers and collectors who care about its history.

I am willing to accept offers, but I am no hurry to sell this banjo.

I prefer the that banjo be picked up in person, because I don’t want to risk shipping a banjo this old.

KD Banjer - Posted - 09/13/2025:  09:03:56

Ad Link: banjohangout.org/classified/112119