Hello,
I have the opportunity to buy what I believe to be a 1964 RB-100 but could really use the help of the experts to help me identify what this is.
S/N 1781XX leads me to believe it is from 1964. Lack of inlays and the simple dot markers lead me to think it is an RB-100.
Am I correct here? Otherwise please let em know what you think it is.
Head stock has been drilled for Scruggs Tuners, who much does his affect value?
I know the RB-100 carries a lesser value than the Mastertone series. This one does not have a tone ring "conversion". It is in nice condition and plays well.
Can anyone give me a ballpark value? I think his asking price is confused with the value of a Mastertone.
Thanks,
Curt.
Edited by - cesibley on 01/28/2023 15:20:01
Looks to be an RB 100. I saw one for sale recently for $1600, I think that is a little high, but as people say, go find another one.
Value very dependent on which rim it has. 1964 is when the transition away from the more valued brown 3 ply rim was happening.
The banjo pictured has the small diameter brass "archtop" hoop, which was only used on the more desired, 3 ply brown rim.
You see these RB 100's selling for $1000.00 to $14-1500.00 pretty regularly.
I've owned a couple, and they're solid, well built Gibson banjos.
I prefer the ones with the "archtop" hoop like the one pictured
Yes sir - It certainly appears to be an RB 100. IF it has the thick, 3 ply rim, around 1200 on the low end to around 1600 or so on the high end, depending on how clean and totally original it is, how good the particular banjo sounds, any replaced parts or any necessary needed work to get it in good playing condition, (fret dressing or fret job, new head, bridge, strings, - that's the minor stuff. if it needs a1400/1500.00 give or take a hundred would be a decent enough deal.
Those D tuners are good quality. I believe they are Burlile tuners. Since you see a lot of Gibson banjos from that era with cam style tuners I doubt they would hurt the value much. Some people are going back to the old cam style tuners. They have a cool factor all their own.
The cam tuners are among the best made (well over $300 to buy a new set), and do not devalue the banjo at all.
I agree with the suggested values.
Some folks will pay over $2000 to get the rim and flange for a Mastertone "conversion" project, but personally I think that's not financially wise It used to be 50-60 years ago when it was everybody's goal to find an old Mastertone, style 100s sold CHEAP and made for good value in a conversion Mastertone. Not any more though. In MY opinion.
Hopefully yours has the 9/16" "thick" rim, stained mahogany brown, like the neck.
Offer low end price, these are hard to sell, because there is not much of a market for arch tops. I would'nt pay over $1200, and I'd offer $1000, and let the offer ride for awhile before I paid the $1200.
Jan this is a brass hoop not an archtop. Nobody buys these for the hoop.
quote:
Originally posted by ChunoTheDogJan this is a brass hoop not an archtop. Nobody buys these for the hoop.
Not much of a market for tone rings either. Flat head tone ring will have to go in, which also lowers the selling price.
Edited by - jan dupree on 01/30/2023 09:05:16
quote:
Originally posted by jan dupreequote:
Originally posted by ChunoTheDogJan this is a brass hoop not an archtop. Nobody buys these for the hoop.
Not much of a market for tone rings either. Flat head tone ring will have to go in, which also lowers the selling price.
why would a flathead conversion lower the price? I think its would raise it the price of the tone ring at least. no one is collecting 1960s rb-100s looking for originality, this would sell quicker and higher price as a converted banjo ready to play bluegrass, assuming it has the 3ply rim. The comment on the archtop hoop was more about the kind of rim it has, with the archtop hoop its more likely to have the 3ply full width rim.
The flathead conversion would not add to the value as much as it would destroy the originality of the rim. Even though these banjos are not collector's items they are getting harder and harder to find. The RB100 was a good step up from a beginner banjo before the market was flooded with Asian imports.
With so many people converting them to pseudo Mastertones they don't pop up in music stores and pawn shops like they used to.
quote:
Originally posted by CullodenThe flathead conversion would not add to the value as much as it would destroy the originality of the rim. Even though these banjos are not collector's items they are getting harder and harder to find. The RB100 was a good step up from a beginner banjo before the market was flooded with Asian imports.
With so many people converting them to pseudo Mastertones they don't pop up in music stores and pawn shops like they used to.
so youre saying that people are buying these to play as hoop banjos or to collect them? Ive personally sold 2 to people who converted them to play bluegrass, they spent a pretty penny to convert them. The reason why people want these rims is to convert them, but I don't see any market for these as collectors items. I bet you can get 1200 to 1500 for an unconverted one and easily get 2k for a converted one. But what do I do know, I don't collect low end 60s banjos.
You are trying to put words in my post that I didn't say. I did not say that they are collector's items. I just said that they are getting harder to find.
Who knows what people might want 50 years from now. Hoop banjos, or even tenor banjos may be all the rage again one day.
quote:
Originally posted by kylebquote:
Originally posted by jan dupreequote:
Originally posted by ChunoTheDogJan this is a brass hoop not an archtop. Nobody buys these for the hoop.
Not much of a market for tone rings either. Flat head tone ring will have to go in, which also lowers the selling price.
why would a flathead conversion lower the price? I think its would raise it the price of the tone ring at least. no one is collecting 1960s rb-100s looking for originality, this would sell quicker and higher price as a converted banjo ready to play bluegrass, assuming it has the 3ply rim. The comment on the archtop hoop was more about the kind of rim it has, with the archtop hoop its more likely to have the 3ply full width rim.
You're right, the banjo would be worth more after the conversion to flathead was complete. I just meant the banjo as is has a low price because of the money required to convert it. If it has that narrow 1-3/16th neck that most of them have, the price could be even lower. Because a new neck would have to be installed.
