gdoc says:
4/6/2014 5:41:08 AM

Boy, trying to describe sound and tones is like explaining color to a blind person if you know what I mean. But here goes.

To me, the BB banjos have a sweetness in the tone no other banjo has. Very full bodied sound, very rich. You hear tones that other banjos just don't have. Then the ability to bend that sound, changing it, like can be done on all banjos by pick attack, placement of hand and such, changes that banjo completely, yet retains this certain sweetness in tone.

The other banjos have a harsher tone. That's the best I can do to use words. Best way to know, is to go play one. You will be come instantly aware of the differences.

revellfa says:
4/6/2014 6:08:48 PM

Lots of variables to consider of course but I like others find more sweetness and less brashness with a ball bearing as opposed to an arch top. Also I find that a ball bearing actually sounds more like a flathead to me than an arch top.
At any rate I find no loss of volume or power at all with a ball bearing. I do think a ball bearing is more versatile for all styles of playing. It has a very complex tone that no other tone ring has. It almost seems to have it's own kind of "reverb."

Ralph Stanley legend says:
4/10/2014 1:43:48 AM

Thanks guys, I am considering either the 1926 style 3 BB at $4000, new Neat neck / resonator OR a 1927 solid archtop 3 at $3850 both at Gruhns. Is the price for the BB fair ?

gdoc says:
4/10/2014 6:36:57 AM

Something I have kept an eye on is the prices of the BB banjos. About 6 or 7 years ago you could find 3 or 4 on ebay EVER WEEK going for $1,500 or so. They over the next 3 years crept up to $2,500, sometimes converted, sometimes not.

But in the last year or two, the prices have gone pretty solid to 3k range, both converted and not, and more important, they aren't on ebay that often now. If fact other than the BB guitar, I haven't seen anything in awhile. (Junk not included)

So there may have been some fast trading a few years ago, those of us who love the BB banjos bought them, and are keeping them now. This drives the price up.

Also, many times just to hear ourselves talk, people will make statements like "BB banjos aren't loud enough", and many never heard one, just repeat the statement. Those of us with them Know this isn't so, they are plenty loud.

People also say there are thousands of them out there... well 2 or 3 is plural, but in the context people refer to is like there is 20,000 BB banjos and they are common as a mutt dog.

They only made them for 2 years, and near as I can figure, only 1,000 or so each year. How close I am there I don't know, I'd like to have more accurate numbers, but for a fact, it's nothing like 10 or 20 thousand, and many were lost naturally, many were butchered.

So how many really survived? The myth they are not loud enough is dead. The truth that they have a very unique sweet sound is alive and well.

And more important, those of us who love them and holding on to them.

1926 Gibson tb3 w/conversion 5 string neck
Linked by petevincze 7 years ago

PRICE REDUCED! Original 5 String 1926 Gibson Mastertone RB-3, Ball-bearing, FON 8447-7
Linked by revellfa 8 years ago: Wow. Only one I've ever seen for sale

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Linked by revellfa 8 years ago: I'd like to trade my 1954 Gibson Southern Jumbo for your Ball Bearing Banjo

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Linked by Ralph Stanley legend 8 years ago

MP3: Darlin' Cora
Linked by revellfa 9 years ago: Played on a 1923 TB-3 Conversion. No springs on this model, just the tube and balls.