I just bought a banjo that is a bit of a mystery and I’m hoping someone can help me identify it!
- says ‘Epiphone by Gibson’ on headstock
- has simple dot inlay on neck
- has inlay block that says ‘masterbuilt
- has sticker on headstock that says MB 100 (maybe mislabelled?)
- this banjo also has a wooden resonator with concentric circles on the back
- has a tone ring and wooden rim
- has a two piece flange (tube and plate) and hook style tension hoop
From what I’ve researched, it’s definitely not an MB 100. I think it may be a late 1970s or early 1980s resonator banjo, but I can’t find any evidence of ‘Epiphone by Gibson’ on the headstock from that era. I’ve also read the the necks from the late 1980s that did say ‘Epiphone by Gibson’ didn’t have the simple dot inlay pattern. I can’t find any serial number. Can anyone help me identify what I just bought??
Edited by - johnnyb123 on 07/07/2026 21:15:20
PLease post photos.
quote:
Originally posted by The Old TimerPLease post photos.
I just attached a few pics to my original post. Thanks for your help!
My knowledge is hardly expert, but my guess is it’s an early Japanese-made model (ca. 1970) from right after Gibson moved the top-end Epiphone production out of the U.S .
I would initially imagine it's one of the incarnations of the MB250. Although the dot inlay is not typical -it's usually more fancy than that. I can see one search result dot inlay being described as a MB250.
However I can also see one listing for an MB100 that is of this type. The listing says not to be confused with the modern version of the MB100.
reverb.com/uk/item/96590816-vi...ing-banjo
One thing we do know (I think) is that the MB200, which is typically a bottlecap banjo, was also for a little while a banjo much more like the MB250. So perhaps this was also the case with the MB100.
Here's another listing:
banjobuyer.com/banjo/73704
An early and different MB100 seems possible.
It looks like a good banjo, how's it sound?
I wouldn't be surprised if the Asian assembler simply reached for the wrong model's neck when assembling this Masterclone. A 100 style neck on a 250 style body.
As Epiphone moved from Japan to Korea to China design changes came about. There are several variations of the MB100. The one shown in the original post looks like it might be Korean. The MB100 Epiphone makes now is a cheap, open back model with guitar style tuning pegs, and the pictures below are of a different model, possibly made in Japan.
Edited by - Culloden on 07/08/2026 08:43:02
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