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1) identify gibson banjo. Best guess is a 1957 rb-100 (serial 7-5712-73)
2) Suggestions on restoration
Found this online for 20$, thinking to good to be true. Took the gamble and it looks to be a real gibson and old.. looking for a good Luthier in Los angeles to fix the broken headstock. And gonna pull of all the metal and give a simple cleaning, water on non scratch cloth. Would like to keep mostly original, but will need new nut and bridge. Any suggestions under taking this project? Thanks
$20 is, no doubt, a great price. It does look like there must be several missing pieces of wood from that broken headstock which might make the repair more difficult. I know nothing about that kind of restoration. Would it be better to have a nice new neck made? You’re still WAY ahead of the game since the rest of the banjo only cost $20.
Typically that sort of headstock break is eminently repairable. I'm sure some of the luthiers here could do it for you. Since you've only go $20 in it, I'd keep the repairs as simple/cheap (but professional) as possible.
If you're going to get a new neck, you might as well put a tone ring it. But then you're going to have around $1500 more or less in it. You could then sell this broken RB 100 neck to someone who would repair it or have it repaired to convert a TB 100 to 5 string.
Edited by - The Old Timer on 12/02/2022 10:16:45
quote:
Originally posted by The Old TimerTypically that sort of headstock break is eminently repairable. I'm sure some of the luthiers here could do it for you. Since you've only go $20 in it, I'd keep the repairs as simple/cheap (but professional) as possible.
If you're going to get a new neck, you might as well put a tone ring it. But then you're going to have around $1500 more or less in it. You could then sell this broken RB 100 neck to someone who would repair it or have it repaired to convert a TB 100 to 5 string.
There's no reason to put a tone ring in it, new neck or not......
Edited by - RioStat on 12/02/2022 10:21:44
Can't look at this as a financial proposition -- buy cheap, fix it expensively, sell for less than was put into it, make it up in volume.
If not a banjo you would play, then:
a. Could be a hobby project. Learning.
b. Could be a modest fix to get the thing playable, then give away to school or young person to learn.
c. Could part it out, sell the salvageable parts for a couple hundred. Let someone else do a or b.
d. Could sell as is at a profit, to those who say that $20 is underpriced.
Giving it a cleaning with soap and water is a good start. Hopefully someone closer to you can recommend a good repairman near L.A.
Don't cut the rim, and don't have a Mastertone neck stuck on it. Mastertone copies are a dime a dozen. Old, unmolested RB100s are getting harder to find.
That tailpiece is easy to string with ball end strings. Don't give in to the temptation to replace it unless it breaks.
My plan is to keep. Restoration as simple and easy as possible. Detailed cleaning, pulled the banjo apart. Pulled off metal and headstock. Replacing only missing pieces, bridge,nut, and 2 brackets..
I do intend to keep and repair headstock, most of it is there. I am confused this is a 5-string are rb-100 4 string?
Intentions are to get this banjo in good playing condition.
quote:
Originally posted by davidbanjo12My plan is to keep. Restoration as simple and easy as possible. Detailed cleaning, pulled the banjo apart. Pulled off metal and headstock. Replacing only missing pieces, bridge,nut, and 2 brackets..
I do intend to keep and repair headstock, most of it is there. I am confused this is a 5-string are rb-100 4 string?
Intentions are to get this banjo in good playing condition.
TB - Tenor banjo
PB - Plectrum banjo
RB- Regular (5 string) banjo
There is more than one way to make an archtop.
The simplest is the round rod of brass.
The Lange Challenger had two flatbars rolled, one on the inside top ledge and the other on the outside top ledge.
I mentioned several years ago that it was a "feaux" archtop, somebody answered, no it was just an archtop.
The headstock is one of my favorites and I like the way it looks on stage. There is a balance in form that I find pleasing.
Thanks for restoring a playing instrument. Look how much you learned.
Edited by - Helix on 12/03/2022 05:11:45
quote:
Originally posted by HelixThere is more than one way to make an archtop.
The simplest is the round rod of brass.
The Lange Challenger had two flatbars rolled, one on the inside top ledge and the other on the outside top ledge.
I mentioned several years ago that it was a "feaux" archtop, somebody answered, no it was just an archtop.
The headstock is one of my favorites and I like the way it looks on stage. There is a balance in form that I find pleasing.
Thanks for restoring a playing instrument. Look how much you learned.
That's no archtop
quote:
Originally posted by HelixChunoTheDog Instead of telling us what it isn't, why don't you kindly explain for us others.
Cast raised head tone ring.
Brass hoop is a brass hoop.
Not the same animal, but you already knew that.
Dear friend, I don't understand your impatience.
I even have two Cherry archtop woodies.
So you are saying they are not archtops
They have the characteristic triangular chamber.
The head in the picture shows an archtop configuration.
And there are different ways to make flatheads unless I am mistaken.
So an AT needs the official AT tone ring? Why?
Hello,
What? Question Gibson? Question the Gibson purists? Post war, Gibson produced banjos differently from Pre War. Brass rods vs Aluminum cast tone ring are physically and sound different. Get a larger brass rod and it will be a flathead. The Aluminum tone ring was position fixed. This brass ring is moveable. All brass rings are moveable. Lighter also.
Every manufacturer calls their products what they want. For Gibson style banjos, Gibson went from cast tone rings to brass rods post war. Looks like an AT, but isn’t a pre war AT. This is a Gibson. This is what the OP asked a question about.
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