quote:Originally posted by Old HickoryThis may be only the second one of these I've ever seen.

Rarely seen configuration from the end of the bowtie era. I think it proves there was a transition design at the end.

Has the bowtie inlays and sunburst resonator with rings you'd expect on a 60s RB-250. But Instead of the Gibson guitar-style headstock, this one has the fiddle cut that would be seen on the redesigned 1970 pre-war-inspired RB-250. It also features a laminated neck in curly maple, similar to what would show up on the RB-800 in the '70s. If there was an 800 in the 60s, then maybe it had this neck, too.

Still has the original boxy Kluson tuners and a friction fifth.

Really cool, and not a ridiculous price at $3200, with a Make Offer option. Appears to be selling it only with local pick-up in Michigan.

Hope I'm not being fooled by a fake.

I have no connection to this sale. Just sharing this because of the rarity of this combination of design elements.It's legitimate Ken, it belongs to my good friend and former Blue Grass Boy Dana Cupp, and I have played said banjo. It sounds great, plays easy. The friction peg would take some getting used to, but it is very much a RARE find.

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

This may be only the second one of these I've ever seen.

Rarely seen configuration from the end of the bowtie era. I think it proves there was a transition design at the end.

Has the bowtie inlays and sunburst resonator with rings you'd expect on a 60s RB-250. But Instead of the Gibson guitar-style  headstock, this one has the fiddle cut that would be seen on the redesigned 1970 pre-war-inspired RB-250. It also features a laminated neck in curly maple, similar to what would show up on the RB-800 in the '70s. If there was an 800 in the 60s, then maybe it had this neck, too.

Still has the original boxy Kluson tuners and a friction fifth.

Really cool, and not a ridiculous price at $3200, with a Make Offer option. Appears to be selling it only with local pick-up in Michigan.

Hope I'm not being fooled by a fake.

I have no connection to this sale. Just sharing this because of the rarity of this combination of design elements.

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It is legitimate, Ken. I have played said banjo and it is truly a RARE find. Faulkner ring, three piece neck, fiddle cut peghead, Gibson was experimenting with all kinds of manufacturing options at that time I imagine. It is for sale by my good friend and former Blue Grass Boy Dana Cupp, Bill Monroe's final banjo player from 1991-1996, member of Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mtn Boys in the early 80's and Osborne Brothers'/Bobby Osborne's banjo & rhythm guitar player from 1996-2011. Dana is an active member here on the Hangout, but no, this is not a fake Ebay listing.

Old Hickory Here is the classified ad Dana posted of the same banjo banjohangout.org/classified/115780

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Originally posted by earlsgranada
It is legitimate, Ken. I have played said banjo and it is truly a RARE find.  . . . It is for sale by my good friend and former Blue Grass Boy Dana Cupp. . .

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Thanks for the confirmation, Craig.

I'm not in the market, but I'd expect this to move. 

I suspect that it was a prototype, and with the Faulkner tone ring, I bet that it sounds good.

The RB 250 bowtie with fiddle peghead was the final iteration of the bowtie 250 before Gibson went to the redesign that "almost" looked like an RB 75 neck.

I think the fiddle peghead bowtie even showed up in the Gibson catalog for one year.

The RB 800 of the 1960s had either hearts and flowers or the flying eagles neck.

I've seen a few of these fiddle peghead bowties in my decades of playing Gibson banjos.

The RB 100s of the same year also got a fiddle peghead.

I purchased one of those new in the early 70's. I came via a music shop I was friendly with. They sourced from the Gibson distributor here. It was my first Gibson and "real" banjo. I had the Scruggs D tuners installed shortly after I got it.

Excuse the quality of the photos.

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Originally posted by banjonz

I purchased one of those new in the early 70's. . . . Excuse the quality of the photos.

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Thanks for the photos. Now I've seen three of these!

They aren't all that "rare". This was a transitional model between the "bow tie" RB205 and the re-design that finalized in 1970/71.

Mr. Cupp's price seems a little high. $2,500-2,700 would seem more like it to me.

It is my understanding that this particular model was only made for 2 years, 68 and 69, or 69 and 70. I have seen 3 or 4 I suppose. They were an interesting banjo for sure. The price is pretty close to what it should be I think.