Up for sale is my 1926 Gibson TB-3 Ball Bearing Banjo. This banjo used to belong to Roger Smith who played the fiddle and some banjo with Bill Monroe.

Some videos of me playing this banjo

youtube.com/watch?v=1lFx-Uouf70

youtube.com/watch?v=lSoFVszb68A

This old Gibson features that often imitated but never duplicated famous red maple. This banjo has an old sound that can only come from old wood.

This is the 1926 improved version of the Ball Bearing tone ring which was the original “Mastertone.” Why was the Ball Bearing tone chamber abandoned? This design was at the same time cumbersome and time consuming to produce. Gibson eventually abandoned it in favor of their cast raised head one piece tone ring. According to the FON this one was likely one of the last Ball Bearing Banjos to leave the Gibson factory. It boasts a notched tension hoop (instead of grooved) and a rare double bound resonator.

In the old Gibson style this banjo features tapered resonator sidewalls which aids in projection and adds to that “deep, hollow” tone. Excellent hardware and craftsmanship--looks like it left the factory yesterday. It has the FON in chalk and also stamped. All the hallmarks of an old Gibson--including sound.

Some say that these Ball Bearings lack volume--not this one. For these Ball Bearing banjos the sound is all in the setup. If you get one set up right it will sound as good if not better than any other prewar. If it is not set up correctly (particularly the head tension) is will purr like a pussycat and not roar like a lion.

This one has been tweaked and sounds fantastic. The sound is at the same time mellow yet powerful, some describe it as a “sweet” tone but to me it is a sound that can only be described as “old.” This is a tone that you can only get from an old banjo made from wood which will soon be 90 years old.

This banjo is equally at home with all styles of playing including bluegrass, old time, two-fingered style, and old time fingerpicking with no picks. To my ear, it sounds more like a flathead than an archtop. Even though it is lighter weight it does not lack tone or volume. There is no brashness to the tone, good note separation and pure TONE.

The tone chamber has not been adulterated in any way and is exactly as Gibson intended for it to be. If you want to sound like 1926 then this is the banjo for you. Try finding a true pre-war with an original tone chamber at this price point.

This banjo is all original with the exception of course of the neck and head (and a newer presto.) I have heard rumors of who made the neck but I cannot be sure so I won’t speculate. What I can say for sure is that this is a VERY comfortable neck and is stable and well made. The neck does have some finish wear on the back. The neck maker had enough foresight to use the original Grover two-tab tuners from the original tenor banjo and they work great.

This fine banjo comes with a Remo head and McPeat bridge.

You won’t find a better pre-war at any price point and this banjo is a sound investment to boot--especially considering that the asking price on these old Ball Bearings just seems to keep going up.

Only selling because my asking price will pay off my SUV.