pmag - Posted - 06/26/2026:  04:44:34

Can anyone help me gather some more information on this banjo. The seller has had it for 20 years and doesn’t know much about it other than it sounds good and he didn’t make any changes to it.

I’ll upload the few pictures I have. Only other information he gave me is the resonator has the same number 9559 as the banjo 9559-12.

Trying to determine if this was a plectrum with a replacement neck, what else might not be original.

Also what would the value be roughly?

 

plars - Posted - 06/26/2026:  04:56:38

banjophiles.com/SerNumData/9XXX.htm



Banjophiles has 9559 batch as style 1. Can you upload more pics of the inside of the pot and the back of the resonator? The resonator sidewalls do not look as dark as a the standard style 1 "ox blood" red color, but the rim color looks right.



Looks like a cut rim with added tone ring.

If it’s all legit and the neck and ring are high quality, it’s $4500-$5500 in today’s market I would think.

Edited by - plars on 06/26/2026 04:59:38

pmag - Posted - 06/26/2026:  09:02:24

quote:

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Originally posted by plars

banjophiles.com/SerNumData/9XXX.htm



Banjophiles has 9559 batch as style 1. Can you upload more pics of the inside of the pot and the back of the resonator? The resonator sidewalls do not look as dark as a the standard style 1 "ox blood" red color, but the rim color looks right.



Looks like a cut rim with added tone ring.

If it’s all legit and the neck and ring are high quality, it’s $4500-$5500 in today’s market I would think.

---

I swear I'm young enough to know better, but in struggling to upload pictures to this response haha. 

 

but thank you, I think that helps me with my decision. It's posted for $5k. 

 

thank you for your help! 

plars - Posted - 06/26/2026:  09:32:40

Looks legit to me. The pictures could be better but here is a link to Greg Earnest website showing another 9559..
earnestbanjo.com/wp/gibson-pb-1-9559-40/
Double bound reso, correct waterslide decal, etc. Depending on who made the neck and tone ring, sounds like the asking price is "in-line."

Most importantly, do you like how it feels and sounds?!?

pmag - Posted - 06/26/2026:  11:24:26

Well next step would definitely be to go and meet up and play it.
Which is definitely the most important factor. Thanks for your help

plars - Posted - 06/26/2026:  11:29:20

Good luck! There is something special about those old banjos…. Beyond how great they smell!

J.Albert - Posted - 06/26/2026:  11:43:18

Things to ask:
- who made the neck?
- how much of the metal (other than the ring, tailpiece) is original?
- what kind of tuners on it?
- what kind of truss rod (single-action or double-action)?
- who made the tone ring (of course!)?

BanjoLink - Posted - 06/26/2026:  12:44:15

5k might be a tad high. It is listed as a Style 1 (probably a PB, as all the others in that batch were), cut for a flathead tone ring and refinished resonator. Obviously a new neck ...... knowing who made it might help some.

pmag - Posted - 06/26/2026:  20:28:55

The guy doesn’t know any other information. He said it’s always been a 5 string and he didn’t think it was a new neck. Didn’t know about tone rings or if it was cut for flathead.

J.Albert - Posted - 06/27/2026:  06:42:40

From the owner's lack of ability to provide you with adequate information on the banjo...

... I'd steer clear of this one. There are many more fish in the sea...

pmag - Posted - 06/27/2026:  10:28:49

quote:

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Originally posted by J.Albert

From the owner's lack of ability to provide you with adequate information on the banjo...

... I'd steer clear of this one. There are many more fish in the sea...

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that's what I ended up deciding. It's an hour and a half drive and I decided not to meet up to play it. 

 

im also in absolutely no rush on picking up a prewar Gibson. Still very happy with my current banjo and have a lot more lessons and practicing to do. 

 

but I'm keeping my eyes peeled, and learning about them along the way. 

 

thanks for your help everyone 

BanjoLink - Posted - 06/28/2026:  13:43:59

quote:

---

Originally posted by pmag

quote:

---

Originally posted by J.Albert

From the owner's lack of ability to provide you with adequate information on the banjo...

... I'd steer clear of this one. There are many more fish in the sea...

---

You will have a lot more opportunities to buy a much better pre-war Mastertone.

that's what I ended up deciding. It's an hour and a half drive and I decided not to meet up to play it. 

 

im also in absolutely no rush on picking up a prewar Gibson. Still very happy with my current banjo and have a lot more lessons and practicing to do. 

 

but I'm keeping my eyes peeled, and learning about them along the way. 

 

thanks for your help everyone 

---

The Old Timer - Posted - 06/28/2026:  18:14:16

That neck is not original Gibson for a Style 1. It is a copy of the much higher gold plated "Bella Voce" neck. Again, depending on its quality, feel, etc. it could support the banjo's asking price. But you can't get top dollar if you don't who made/fitted the neck, and who made the tone ring.