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okbluegrassbanjopicker - Posted - 11/22/2025: 22:09:26
I'm just curious as to what I can reasonably expect to get for this banjo if I decide to sell it.
1970s Morris RB-75 copy, non-original archtop ring from another Japanese banjo. The original flathead ring is in a different banjo.
I'd say this banjo is comparable to a vintage Gold Star archtop in terms of quality.
It just about plays itself. No exaggeration.
BobbyE - Posted - 11/23/2025: 06:40:28
I would guess $500 - $600 at most. Looks like might be a multi-ply rim, we know it's an archtop, and the name "Morris," is unknown to so many people. Has to be an Asian import, perhaps Japan, that has the same look as many others of that era. Tuners are there and that might help. A step up from an absolute beginner's model though.
Bobby
banjonz - Posted - 11/23/2025: 13:27:27
Suspect Japanese (but uncertain) 1970's made. Some of the stuff coming out of Asia at that time were better than stuff coming out of Gibson factory.
Morris - Japanese - Peg head is traditional Gibson style, "Morris" inlaid at slight angle between second and third tuners, bell shaped truss rod cover with "Standard" etched in it, head inlays are a gold colored, possibly from lacquer aging. Quite good planetary tuners with pearloid buttons, geared fifth. Nickel plate. Nice but simple mother of pearl inlays at 1,3,5,7,10,12,15,17,19 and 22 with bow tie type from 10 onward. Bound rosewood fingerboard with small fret wire, clamshell tail piece with Morris inscribed. 2 foot pressed arm rest and flat head tone ring. Gibson style one piece flange, probably zinc, also Gibson style flange brackets, 4 resonator screws. 14" resonator on the banjo examined is probably non original (Korean). From hawthorne.fastie.com/asianbanjos/lz.php.
At that era, the vast majority that was coming out of Asia were copies of the Gibson line. Yours is what we call a 'Masterclone' and is a lookalike of the Gibson RB 250.
