Hello banjo scholars, my grandparents passed a little while ago and my grandfather was a banjo player. I have been trying to learn on his banjo but now I am getting curious about it's history but don't have the option to ask him about it. I just know he picked it up from a pawn shop in St. Louis but not sure when. It is a Gibson of some sort but the serial number didn't match any of the formats from the Gibson website.
Does anyone have any ideas about what it could be and what year it is from? Thank you very much :)
The serial number is hard to read but says 805404
Looks like a Gibson RB-100. I'm not sure about the number, but likely 1950s.
Edited by - Nic Pennsylvania on 04/16/2025 08:56:42
Your Banjo is a Gibson RB-100 (Regular 5-String Banjo) probably from the 60s between 1966-69.
It should be (if not converted) a non Mastertone Banjo with a brass hoop below the skin instead of a heavy tonering.
It's an RB-100 from the 1960s. Gibson serials from that period are a mess; this one nominally dates to 1966 or 1969, though instruments from around then often show up with features that are a year or two off.
It looks like a 50's Rb100. It most likely doesn't have a tone ring. If it does, somebody added it. I can tell by the hand marks that he was a claw hammer style player. This is a good banjo for that but is usable for Scruggs style three finger picking as well. I wish I could give you a date of manufacturing but someone else here can. Go ahead and list what the number is because it is hard to see in the picture. Also take some pictures of the side of the pot and back of the resonator back.
I have to correct myself -- almost certainly 1965-1967. Earnest Banjo has a 1967 RB500 with the #806883, which I take to be pretty close.
Edited by - Nic Pennsylvania on 04/16/2025 09:01:59
Thank you so much everyone for the insights, Nic Pennsylvania thanks as well for the serial number reference that seems like a promising reference point! and Schnitzel I will check for the tone ring, danke shoen :)
This is an RB100. Banjophiles is showing a serial number pretty close to this one from 1966.
The tuners look like they have been replaced. Kluson box type tuners were not usually found on RB100s but, with Gibson, anything is possible.
Culloden I am working on replacing components of the tuners now so they should be back in good shape soon!
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