Hello!! So I’ve got my eye on a few older banjos. The Vega folk worker or Gibson rb 170, the folk wonder is significantly cheaper and has a pretty cool style to it, the Gibson 170 is pretty neat to, very unique as well, the can’t find a whole lot online about these gibsons, I’m curious if anyone knows how the folk wonder and the Gibson are, I want a bright responsive sound, I know the gibsons can offer that but do the folk wonder? Or is the Vega a bit more warm? Any advice helps, thanks!
I have owned three Gibson RB-170’s over the years. Still have one and consider it one of my main players. Probably the most versatile banjo I have. Very well made, great tone and a wonderful neck to play on. You can pull pretty much any tone you want from them, from a bright Bluegrass sound, down to a thumping frailing tone, depending upon how you set up the instrument.
The two instruments are worlds apart in regards to build and tone. Folk Wonders are a low end, light weight instrument. The few I have played have been so-so on tone and playability. Gibson RB-170’s, especially the early ones, 1964 and prior, are very high quality instruments. Simple in design, but built every bit as well as the highest quality Gibson instruments of the time.
The RB-170’s, especially the early ones, are a bit hard to find, but if you already have a lock on one, I would jump on it. A few years ago, I would see them for sale on occasion for 500-900$ US, now I see them, the few I see sell, for between 1000-1400 USD.
If you hunt the archives, you will find a fair amount of info on 170’s. The consensus seems to be that they are great instruments.
I played a Folk Wonder for years -- clawhammer -- in a lot of loud bars and pubs.
A fine instrument I was very happy with.
Sold it to move up to a Wildwood.
There a couple of construction details on the RB-170 that I like better than the Folk Wonder;
RB-170's have a Brazilian rosewood fretboard. Folk Wonder is usually ebonized maple. The rosewood is much easier to refret than the ebonized wood.
Most of the RB-170's (depending on the year of manufacture) have a 3-ply maple rim, while the Folk Wonders have a cross ply maple rim.
They are both perfectly playable banjos, but f I am choosing between the two, I like the Gibson better.
And I happen to have one for sale.
Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstruments.com
I own an rb 170. I also own 4 other 5 string banjos. Three are what I consider "high end". I have to say that the Gibson is easy to play and it stays in tune better than any other banjo I own. I agree that it is easily played with fingerpicks or without (clawhammer style). Although it doesn't have as good tone as others I have, it does have a "unique" tone that I like a lot.
I find the RB 170 (pre 1964) at least has an unnecessarily thick/heavy rim. Same rim as used in Mastertones.
The Vega Folk Wonder has a thinner/lighter rim and is more comfortable around the neck or in the lap.
the thick rim might be unnecessary but this way lighter than my rk 85. It's actually lighter than my Vega with Whyte laydie tone ring.
I owned a '62 Vega Folk Wonder and a '66 Gibson RB-170 side by side for a while. I always thought the Gibson was the better banjo. And I like a "bright responsive sound" same as you.
I always felt like I had to "pull harder" on the Vega to get the sound I wanted, if you know what I mean. At one point, through setup tinkering, I thought I had the Vega sounding better. Then I applied the same changes to the Gibson and it jumped right out in front of the Vega again.
In the end I spotted a "bucket list" type of banjo for me at a shop and traded both of them in on it. I just checked, and they still have the Vega for sale, but the Gibson has sold. That may tell you something as well. At some point, somebody had the chance in that shop to play them both, and they bought the Gibson.
Note, my '66 Gibson is NOT the older thick rim variety that everybody on BHO loves to talk about. It had the thinner, multi-ply, black rim. And it STILL sounded better than the Vega.
Edited by - Eric A on 09/27/2023 07:58:36
Thank you all so much. I think I’m gonna go with the Gibson. I have to sell my Bart Reiter white ladye first . But should be a few weeks until I get the Gibson. Thanks all.
even though I really like the RB 170 I personally would not sell a Reiter WL to buy one. I also have a Vega \ Reiter WL and I do like that better than the RB 170.
If you have a Reiter WL, why on earth are you considering either of the other two banjos? I would consider either a clearly lesser instrument.
I'm a big fan of both. To me, the big differences are that the 170 has a mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard and can be found as an archtop or flattop(the (archtop is easily converted to flat for about $60 for the hoop and the new head). The Wonder has a maple neck with ebony 'board and is a flattop only.
The Folk Wonder is essentially the same banjo as the '20s Vega Regent and the current Deering Vega Senator (but not the '20s Senator). CF Martin made a very nice version that you can find for sale here: 1973 Vega by Martin Folk Wonder, better than the 1960s Wonder, IMO. Unless you can find a '20s Vega Regent in better shape, this would be my first choice.
My Regent wasn't as bright as my Tubaphones but just as loud. These like nice, tight heads just a step below, "Ooops dammit!'.
Edited by - mikehalloran on 09/27/2023 12:24:22
I assume you know this already but just in case... The Gibson RB-175 is the long necked version of the RB-170. The one at the link is an arch top but easily converted to flat with this 1/4" round rod from Stew-Macy and a new head if you want. Original flat tops are easy to find for sale, too.
Besides the three extra frets, there is one other difference: Gibson used the 32" / 27" (capo'd at the 3rd fret) Vega scale on these instead of their normal 26 3/8" scale like the 170.
I've no affiliation with either of the banjos I've linked but I did see them in person last week. Both are in excellent shape.
quote:
Originally posted by Bill RogersIf you have a Reiter WL, why on earth are you considering either of the other two banjos? I would consider either a clearly lesser instrument.
Well it kinda hurts my heart but money is tight and my main power horse is a Reiter special, it needs a refret so I've been looking to down grade a banjo so I can afford the refret
quote:
Originally posted by gbisignanieven though I really like the RB 170 I personally would not sell a Reiter WL to buy one. I also have a Vega \ Reiter WL and I do like that better than the RB 170.
And I love my Reiter white ladye, but I know they are lesser banjos but the Gibson even as a lesser banjo has a uniqueness in tone.
I jsut like what I've heard from them. Bright and responsive
quote:
Originally posted by Bob SmakulaThere a couple of construction details on the RB-170 that I like better than the Folk Wonder;
RB-170's have a Brazilian rosewood fretboard. Folk Wonder is usually ebonized maple. The rosewood is much easier to refret than the ebonized wood.
Most of the RB-170's (depending on the year of manufacture) have a 3-ply maple rim, while the Folk Wonders have a cross ply maple rim.
...
Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstruments.com
All Vegas by then had the multi-ply rim, of course. Many of us like the sound and do not think that the Gibson style 3-ply is better. In any case, you do describe the RB-170 you have with "The 11" diameter rim is 5 plys of maple and finished in a dark lacquer…" BTW, I think that these are great banjos, too.
I have never seen a Folk Wonder without an ebony 'board, however. Folk Rangers do have ebonized maple.
Edited by - mikehalloran on 09/29/2023 13:56:43
