Any issues/concerns I should know before getting a BB

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Gibson Ballbearing Owners Group

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119 Members, Created 1/26/2011 -

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From Ragtimejoe on 11/20/2013 5:21:25 AM

I'm thinking of getting a 26 or 27 TB 2 BB conversion. Any issues or concerns with the tone ring that I should know about before getting into one. I like the sound, but it seems there are a lot of parts inside the tone ring. Can they come out? Do you need to be a mechanic to own one?

Any advice appreciated?

Joe

4 Comments
	Ks_5-picker says: 11/20/2013 5:40:25 AM Hi Joe.The parts can't escape as long as the head is tightened down. The ball bearing is a "mastertone" gibson,it starts with a style 3 and up.The style one and two had no tone ring,but for a 1/4 or 1/2 inch hoop. 1925 is also a ball bearing year.There one that's quite reasonable right now in the classifieds,or there was yesterday.
	Dave1climber says: 11/20/2013 5:45:32 AM Joe You don't have to be a mechanic to own a ball bearing banjo, just always disassemble it on some sort of soft cloth so that parts don't go rolling away, count the parts, 24 balls and springs, 48 washers. As far as I know Ball Bering Banjo's were only made in 1925 and 1926. Dave
	Fathand says: 11/20/2013 8:57:00 AM BB made 1925, 1926. 1927 were usually No Hole Archtops
	banjerman says: 11/20/2013 11:55:48 AM As mentioned they were only made in 25-26. I havent even tightened the head on mine since I got it back. You wont ever have to fool with the BB's unless you want to.
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