SOLD: 1934 Gibson TB-1 - Banjo Hangout

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SOLD For Sale: SOLD: 1934 Gibson TB-1

Posted By: Karl Smakula (+26) | Rate Member

$2,350 USD

This TB-1 is a handsome veteran of the Shakey’s Pizza banjo and piano band circuit of Southern California. It is a fine playing and sounding instrument in its current state, but if you are looking at putting together a conversion banjo and don’t mind some minor weirdness with the rim hardware, here’s a chance to save some money on a mostly prewar full thickness rim banjo. Let me start by listing said weirdness:

•The tension hoop was replaced with a modern five string one decades ago.

•the flange is a Doehler but it has likely been been replated. Some signs indicate it is prewar (the depth of the circular tooling marks) and some signs indicate it might be postwar (the lack of warping). Please let me know if you have evidence of one way or another.

•the L brackets were replaced with newer ones that are way too long. Some notches were cut out in the resonator wall to accommodate them.

•the tip of the headstock has been filed/sanded down, likely so it could fit in the tight, non original case I acquired the banjo in.

•tailpiece is a modern Kershner

•there is a chunk of binding missing on the bass side of the fingerboard.

Here is what’s right with it:

•FON 867-7 appears on the very clean, uncut, brass hoop equipped rim, the resonator, and the underside of the heel.

•it sounds and plays great in its current form as a tenor banjo

•the armrest, and coordinator rod appear original

•the flange, original or not, looks great and is not broken

My main personal banjo these days is one of these from 1931 that’s been given a full mastertone conversion and it’s fantastic, so I’m sure this banjo would thrive with a tonering and a quality five string neck. Or leave it alone and enjoy playing it in fifths like it was back at the Huntington Beach Shakey’s fifty five years ago. There’s plenty of tunes left in it.

Thanks for looking and feel free to reach out with any questions.