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Originally posted by Marion

Many thanks for all of the positive thoughts. I have been sidetracked this week with other items that needed attention.
I will reread all the posts, speak with some knowledgable players, and make a decision on what i am going to do.
One thing is certain-i will video the opening and share with all of you.
Thanks,
Have a safe weekend.
Marion

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Definitely take a video! I think we're all pretty invested in it. Even if it turns out to be in bad shape... Sometimes that's just as interesting.

There's a gentleman on YouTube who buys military rations from WW2 specifically to open them and have a taste. But that's sort of the intrigue of the whole thing: sometimes it's absolutely pristine, like it was packaged just yesterday, and sometimes it looks like something you'd drag out of the lake. Either way, it makes for a good watch.

I own a Scruggs Standard, built 9/28/2000. When it was new I was told by knowledgeable pros that it "was a keeper,a once in a lifetime instrument". Alas, it fell and the neck was broken. It sounds pretty good with the replacement, but nothing like the original. I didn't know about all the variations of this model or the history. It's not my bag. But I hope somebody gets the banjo of their dreams and Marion gets his price. Maybe some day we'll hear it on a recording or see it played in person to learn the "rest of the story."

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Originally posted by Mark Douglas

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Originally posted by jimbowilly1960

I'm surprised this banjo hasn't sold? Especially with the cooperation expressed, within the ad, by the seller.
The seller's background. Where it appears to have been stored.

I've worked in the transportation industry for 40+ yrs. From what I see in the pictures and what is being offered by the seller. Unless you can hear parts moving around when the package is being handled? There is more of a chance that nothing is damaged. And it's just the model and year that is holding buyers back from making a purchase.

I love a bit of adventure with a good story behind it. Definitely a conversation piece at jams.

I just hope the transaction is recorded for all of us to see and read about.

Any interested buyers had better not wait too long. As far as I'm concerned, this is a very special banjo.

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What i interpret you trying to express......

 

You'd like to observe how this story plays out; you'd appreciate seeing the drama unfold...

Just as long as.....it's not your money at risk....not your resources on the gambling table. As long as you have nothing to lose this would be quite enjoyable to watch.....LOL 

So....where is that person willing to throw caution to the wind? It's only $5,500!

 

 

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Mark, you remind me of a good friend I had some years back. He worried himself to death, LITERALLY!!

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Originally posted by HarleyQ

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark Douglas

quote:

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Originally posted by jimbowilly1960

I'm surprised this banjo hasn't sold? Especially with the cooperation expressed, within the ad, by the seller.
The seller's background. Where it appears to have been stored.

 

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Mark, you remind me of a good friend I had some years back. He worried himself to death, LITERALLY!!

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Oh, my goodness.....didn't you advise him to stop worrying so much? Or perhaps you weren't such a good and helpful friend! LOL....

Maybe you were too busy riding that Harley Davidson?

I have no real opinion on this one way or another. I don't quite understand the animus shown towards the seller though...

In any event, an idea that popped in my head worth sharing, is there is a wonderful YouTube Channel called Trogly's Guitar Show where the YouTuber is a Gibson fanatic. His channel often features unboxings and his recent acquisitions -- all guitars of course. It seems to me that this opportunity might be of interest to him and definitely right up his alley. $5k is not that big a deal to this YouTuber, and it's an interesting channel worth checking out. Maybe the seller can finagle a deal to sell the banjo and unbox it on YouTube for all the world to see. It's a Gibson, after all, so that might be enough to catch his interest, seeing that he loves all things Gibson.

Just another nutty idea of mine LOL. I have no pony in this race, but wish I did!

youtube.com/@Trog

And one more post to point out ... that this BHO thread can be, and already is, part of this banjo's provenance...

The banjo story is very interesting and as always somewhat controversial, but that’s ok as long as folks are respectful. What I find equally as interesting is the story of Mr Hollaway’ music store. Thought you all might enjoy that story as well.
charlotteobserver.com/entertai...4554.html

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Originally posted by GrizClaw

The banjo story is very interesting and as always somewhat controversial, but that’s ok as long as folks are respectful. What I find equally as interesting is the story of Mr Hollaway’ music store. Thought you all might enjoy that story as well.
charlotteobserver.com/entertai...4554.html

PS.....I can just envision that banjo box lost in the beautiful clutter of that old music store for all those years, just like the music stores I loved so much, as a kid, 65+ years ago!

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quote:

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Originally posted by GrizClaw

The banjo story is very interesting and as always somewhat controversial, but that’s ok as long as folks are respectful. What I find equally as interesting is the story of Mr Hollaway’ music store. Thought you all might enjoy that story as well.
charlotteobserver.com/entertai...4554.html

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WOW, so Marion is for real!! Great read I hope it brings $20K.

Is £4,000 a good price for a banjo like this,as a bit of a banjo virgin I haven’t the foggiest how much one of these was worth when they came out,let alone how much a used one would cost today.
Can someone enlighten me please,just curious
Thank you

From what I have found. This banjo is worth between $3500 and $5600.
This is based upon current listing of this model. There seems to have been a large number
of these banjos produced by Gibson. And there have been several recently sold which are still in the original packaging.

<This is based upon current listing of this model. There seems to have been a large number of these banjos produced by Gibson. And there have been several recently sold which are still in the original packaging.>>

Going by current listings can be misleading.... It's quite relevant this this is not a typical "Scruggs model". It's rarer because it's one of the first made and manufactured differently than the very many subsequent Scruggs models. And it's clearly never been played. And it's **not as good a banjo** (see Joe Z's post early in this thread) because it's before they started making a large number of the excellent versions that gave the late-80s and 90s Scruggs models their excellent reputation as some of the best banjos of post-war years.

I wouldn't claim to know what this particular banjo is worth, but remember, it's totally *unplayed*, and both rarer and not as good an instrument as the more typical Scruggs models your research references. As a number of people have said, its provenance and collectability are its strong suits.

It just hit me how this banjo might/should(?) end up -- in a museum with a mind-blowing custom made moving display (behind glass) of a device that opens the box, draws the case out of the box, and opens the case, and lifts up and turns the banjo, displaying the (still) unplayed banjo to the wondering masses. Then the device puts the banjo back in the case and closes it, slides it back into the carton, and closes the flaps (with some sort of hidden dot of adhesive to hold it closed).

That way it remains UNPLAYED and theoretically in factory-new condition, in its original packaging.

Does Gibson have a museum? Would they deign to display a Gibson banjo? Earl Scruggs museum? IBMM in Owensboro? The Banjo Museum in Oklahoma? Perhaps they could have unpaid interns take the place of the custom-made device, and would do unveilings by appointment? Or have some mechanical engineering/robotics college students create the device for course credit?

But the museum would HAVE to draw the line at display only, NEVER to be played.

The mind boggles...

I remain baffled that this banjo is still for sale...? I recently purchase a 2019 Stelling Virginian.
So, unless I want to hear what my wife has to say about me buying another banjo? I guess I'll just have
to watch and see what happens to this fine instrument...?

Me too! I don’t have that kind of money but if I did I might buy it. Maybe it’s not the best banjo Gibson ever made but I’ll bet it’s a lot better than my skills deserve! What intrigues me is that no one has ever touched it since it left the Gibson factory.

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Originally posted by GrizClaw

Me too! I don’t have that kind of money but if I did I might buy it. Maybe it’s not the best banjo Gibson ever made but I’ll bet it’s a lot better than my skills deserve! What intrigues me is that no one has ever touched it since it left the Gibson factory.

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It's like an old bottle of wine....

Once the cork has been popped,

the mystique and intrigue are gone!

The elation would be extraordinary

but fleeting!

Ah! The comparison with ancient wine is perfect!! I remember reading about a stash of Thomas Jefferson's French wine purchase that was discovered sometime since 2000. To drink or not to drink?

Good point Mark, and worth mentioning that the big worry with vintage wine is if its turned to vinegar, worthless.

But there is a chance this banjo is and can stay pristine and stand for a period of time.
ken

I really don’t think it will be a bad sounding banjo….
However, it’s unlikely to have the magic those later models encapsulated!

Just wondering…..

If there are no buyers, will the price be gradually reduced?

I’ll just bet this would sell PDQ
at $4500!

Just sayin’.

Great afternoon to all....Local banjo instructor Steve Hicks, from Dockwood Music is coming here next Tuesday and we will video him opening the box and playing the banjo. I hope to share this with you either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Is there a chance you could livestream that?

I’m sure there would be interest and appreciation!