RB 175 RB 180 and Vega PS Tone Rings

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Long Neck Banjo

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... for those of us who prefer the tuning and singing differences the LN provides. All questions & help welcome!

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Administrators: TonyS (owner) , Gary Blanchard , pastorharry , vega long neck

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From LJ on 8/20/2014 1:53:44 PM

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I have owned an arch-top Gibson RB 175 for over 45 years but its only over the last few years that I have begun to learn about the tone ring differences among some of the long necks of the time. I have discovered that the RB 175 came in both a flat-top and an arch-top version. The only difference being the diameter of the simple, round brass tone ring. The rare RB 180 had the typical 20 hole flathead tone ring. The coveted Vega Pete Seeger model sported the famous tubaphone tone ring. I have posted photos of each on my home page.

Maybe I'm biased and it depends what sound you're after but the Gibson RB's with that thick maple rim give a warm, mellow sound, that to me, is unmatched. What if you put a tubaphone tone ring on an RB 175? That's what I did. The results were amazing. Now I have the punch of a Pete Seeger but the warmth of my old Gibson.

There seem to be lots of RB 175's on the market right now, going for bargain prices. If you can pick one up and make some changes your sound will equal or surpass the Vegas for a fraction of the price.

3 Comments
	BobLusk says: 8/20/2014 2:46:51 PM I did that a few years ago Put a gold tone flathead tone ring on an RB 175. I also have a resonator that I Velcro on from time to time. Only problem is the extra weight.
	calypsojimmy says: 8/20/2014 3:20:05 PM Great post. That's a very intriguing idea. You've got me thinking. I have always enjoyed the fact that banjos are sorta like machines, and can be retooled and improved. FYI I am a dedicated Tubaphone fan, and I have had an original Vega-PS-1958-vintage longneck, as well as a sorta-clone of one of those, comprised of a 1927 Vega Tube-rim plus a repro neck by Wyatt Fawley. I have always loved the vintage Vega "Little Wonder" banjos: So the Vega SS-5 Folklore long neck is a banjo I have always enjoyed, and have hoped to acquire at some point. Your idea here, however, is an intriguing alternative. Question: What kind of re-working was required to fit a Vega-Tuve ring to a Gibson pot?
	LJ says: 8/20/2014 3:38:29 PM I have had no luthier training although I am a fairly accomplished woodworker. I used my router table, clamped on a fence that gave me the diameter that I needed from the router bit so that the thickness of the tubaphone ring would be removed. I carefully rotated the rim keeping the rim tightly against my fence. Since the router bit was allowed to remove only the height and depth that I had set it gave me a clean accurate cut. Most rims are slightly out of round but that didn't seem to pose a problem. I would recommend practising on another circle first. I was scared to death but it was really fairly easy.
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