I'm looking to buy a Gibson Mastertone banjo so if anybody has anything or knows anybody with anything please let me know.
Also, on a related subject, has anybody any advice or experience of buying from the USA?
Thanks, Vern.
15 Comments |
 | Banjowen says:
12/18/2013 5:38:44 AM
Hi Vern, I bought my Sullivan Greenbrier from the USA in 2005, at the time it cost me £120 insurance and £300 went to our ripoff customs and excise, so you've got to weigh up the total cost whether it's worth importing a banjo from America or buying one in the UK which sometimes can cost even more, good luck with your search for the Mastertone.
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 | Banjo Vern says:
12/18/2013 8:11:20 AM
Cheers Owen, that's pretty useful. I've found a handful of interesting ones in the states and compared to prices that come up here are reasonable, even including the duty which as far as I can find out is 5% customs and 20% VAT.
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 | alfiedog says:
12/19/2013 2:54:42 AM
I will keep my Eye's, and Ear's open Vern.
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 | joemac says:
12/19/2013 7:43:29 AM
Shop with Elderly instruments or Mandolin Brothers if your considering buying from the States, they are top guys to work with, on the home front why not try Ian Toftte? If there's anything going he will know, he's not on here, let me know if you want his details, oh hang on, he is on Facebook.
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| Banjo Vern says:
12/19/2013 8:16:40 AM
Thanks guys. I think I've found something with the sort of spec' I want, in the UK, original & at a fair price. Hopefully this will be better than the RB250 I almost bought (until I saw it) a few weeks ago. More news tomorrow!
This will definitely be my last banjo! I'm keeping the others though and the Sierra remains favorite.
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| alfiedog says:
12/19/2013 4:38:23 PM
Vern i looked at two 70s RB250s, and i couldnt believe how crap they were. I was thinking they would be like a mate of mine's 90s RB250. They were advertised at a grand each, i would not have payed £100 for them total junk. 70s must have been a really bad era for Gibson.
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| Banjo Vern says:
12/19/2013 10:18:56 PM
My experience was much the same. They had no feel of quality to the point where the £200 Jida masterclone I've got looks and plays better.
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 | Jane C says:
12/20/2013 3:04:08 AM
"This will definitely be my last banjo"
:-P
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| Banjo Vern says:
12/20/2013 9:56:08 PM
I'm not sure what you're trying to suggest Jane!
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| Banjo Vern says:
12/21/2013 6:18:19 AM
Well, yesterday I became the new owner of a 1991 Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard and I'm over the moon with it. I'll post a video soon.
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| Banjowen says:
12/21/2013 6:38:51 AM
You lucky plucker Vern.....enjoy it.
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 | RB-1 says:
12/21/2013 10:08:55 AM
Don't be misled by the '1970-ies RB-250' stigma.
The weak point is the rim. Replace it with a good (soft) 3-ply maple one and it's a completely different banjo.
Some of the seventies had a better than average rim and these are excellent banjos even today. But admitted, they were few...
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| Banjo Vern says:
12/21/2013 10:31:10 AM
Hi Bruno, my comment only related to yhe basket cases I looked at buying recently. I've had a chance to play one or two owned by others that were really nice.
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| alfiedog says:
12/21/2013 10:42:07 AM
I actually won a 70s RB250 on Ebay for a grand. Drove all the way to nottingham to pick it up, well what i was presented with wasnt like anything that was described in the Ad, all the binding had hairline crack's all up the neck, and round the res, and the thing weighed less then my open back Ozark, that doesnt have a tone ring. The guy wasnt to pleased when i told him it was Crap, but i wasnt parting with any dosh for what could only be described as junk.
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| Banjo Vern says:
12/21/2013 10:44:32 AM
Sounds like the one I looked at that was in at Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester. Tired!
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