Gibson TB-12, 5-Sring Conversion Tenor Banjo (1937)
LOADING IMAGES
Price reduced!
This item has been sold.
Item # 11599
Prices subject to change without notice.
Gibson TB-12, 5-Sring Conversion Model Tenor Banjo (1937), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 391-6, sunburst lacquer finish, maple rim, black walnut resonator, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This clean and quite rare instrument is a 5-string conversion of a Gibson TB-12 tenor banjo originally made in 1937, the mid-line model of three brand new top-tension banjos which debuted that year. Banjo sales were at a low ebb at the time, many of the builders who had ridden the tenor boom of the 1930s were either gone or going out of business. Gibson was one of the few still making professional grade banjos, and the only one to debut a completely new line. These top-tension Mastertone models were available in very limited numbers between 1937 and the suspension of banjo production during WW II.
This new 1937 Gibson "Professional grade" banjo line was strikingly modern in styling compared to earlier designs. The major structural change was adopting a top tension system for the head, pioneered by Ludwig and Leedy in the 1920s. They were the first Gibson banjos to feature the Bluegrass players' "holy grail" flathead tone ring as universal equipment. They looked and felt very different from earlier Gibsons with bold Art Deco styling, including large notched-block inlay in the fingerboard and reshaped angular headstock. The resonator back was elaborately carved from solid wood as opposed to a laminated veneer. Another change was a radiused fingerboard, something then common on guitars but unusual on banjos. Gibson called it the "Stream-Flo neck" with "New wide low action frets".
The gleaming chrome-plated metalwork on the Style 12 really accents the Deco look. This TB-12 is the second-most deluxe banjo Gibson offered in 1937, under the gold-plated Style 18. "A New Banjo by Gibson" was highlighted in bold in their 1937-8 Catalog Y which enumerated its features: "Black walnut wood selected for its richness of grain figure. Natural walnut finish with blended shading on resonator and neck, hand rubbed to a high luster. Ovaled rosewood fingerboard inlaid with genuine pearl to match inlay in peghead. Top and bottom of resonator, fingerboard, and peghead bound with white-black-white ivoroid. New adjustable arm rest. Metal parts have heavy chrome plate."
This banjo listed for $150 in 1937, plus $22.00 for the case. With the very limited demand for professional banjos in the late 1930s, few TB-12s were actually sold. Available information indicates there were possibly 8 banjos in this Factory Order Number batch #391 made in 1937, probably not too many more over the entire run. Batch #390 was a run of the lowest-grade top tension TB-7 , while #392 comprised a tiny run of the gold-plated TB-18, one of which we had in stock recently. While most Top-Tension Gibsons sold were tenor models, the Style 12 was available in Plectrum or 5-string configuration by special order.
This banjo has been expertly converted to 5-string with an excellent replica neck by Robin Smith/Heartland, probably the finest builder of these. The repro neck unfortunately suffered a headstock crack some time back, which has been solidly repaired. Even so this is simply a fabulous find in a genuine pre-war, flat head Mastertone, one of the true "Holy grail" Gibson banjos in the world. The sound is spectacular, playability excellent and all the original components are extremely well preserved.
Overall length is 35 in. (88.9 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
While showing some relatively minor signs of use, this beautiful 85+ year old banjo shows only light wear overall, with no alterations to the original components. As noted the reproduction 5-string neck suffered a typical split at the base of the headstock. This has been repaired solidly but is plainly visible; this could be "neatened up" if desired and of course another repro neck could be substituted; none of the *original* parts of the banjo were affected. The frets on the repro neck show light wear but despite the mishap it is fully playable, a very high quality piece of work. There are railroad spikes at frets 7, 8 and 9.
The original resonator finish has some minor dings and dents but no heavy wear, the rim finish is even cleaner. The chrome-plated one-piece flange is in exceptionally fine condition with no distortion or damage at all, and no stripped threaded holes for the top-tension bolts. All hardware remains original including (of course) the original flat-head tone ring and even the 4-string Grover tailpiece; it is perfectly functionally strung with 5 strings. There is only minor plating wear to the chrome overall.
The original tenor neck (with the original tuners) and red-lined case are included, in excellent shape also with only some minor wear. In its original form the banjo does not look to have been played much. In its current configuration the head is a recent frosted Remo showing some wear to the surface from play, the bridge is a Snuffy Smith. A fitted Calton case is the resting place for the now-5-string instrument.
This TB-12 is an exciting and important piece of Gibson history, one of their more innovative pre-war instruments. These rare top tension banjos have become ever more sought after lately as some of the ultimate instruments for Bluegrass and beyond, and we are thrilled to offer another fine example. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This clean and quite rare instrument is a 5-string conversion of a Gibson TB-12 tenor banjo originally made in 1937, the mid-line model of three brand new top-tension banjos which debuted that year. Banjo sales were at a low ebb at the time, many of the builders who had ridden the tenor boom of the 1930s were either gone or going out of business. Gibson was one of the few still making professional grade banjos, and the only one to debut a completely new line. These top-tension Mastertone models were available in very limited numbers between 1937 and the suspension of banjo production during WW II.
This new 1937 Gibson "Professional grade" banjo line was strikingly modern in styling compared to earlier designs. The major structural change was adopting a top tension system for the head, pioneered by Ludwig and Leedy in the 1920s. They were the first Gibson banjos to feature the Bluegrass players' "holy grail" flathead tone ring as universal equipment. They looked and felt very different from earlier Gibsons with bold Art Deco styling, including large notched-block inlay in the fingerboard and reshaped angular headstock. The resonator back was elaborately carved from solid wood as opposed to a laminated veneer. Another change was a radiused fingerboard, something then common on guitars but unusual on banjos. Gibson called it the "Stream-Flo neck" with "New wide low action frets".
The gleaming chrome-plated metalwork on the Style 12 really accents the Deco look. This TB-12 is the second-most deluxe banjo Gibson offered in 1937, under the gold-plated Style 18. "A New Banjo by Gibson" was highlighted in bold in their 1937-8 Catalog Y which enumerated its features: "Black walnut wood selected for its richness of grain figure. Natural walnut finish with blended shading on resonator and neck, hand rubbed to a high luster. Ovaled rosewood fingerboard inlaid with genuine pearl to match inlay in peghead. Top and bottom of resonator, fingerboard, and peghead bound with white-black-white ivoroid. New adjustable arm rest. Metal parts have heavy chrome plate."
This banjo listed for $150 in 1937, plus $22.00 for the case. With the very limited demand for professional banjos in the late 1930s, few TB-12s were actually sold. Available information indicates there were possibly 8 banjos in this Factory Order Number batch #391 made in 1937, probably not too many more over the entire run. Batch #390 was a run of the lowest-grade top tension TB-7 , while #392 comprised a tiny run of the gold-plated TB-18, one of which we had in stock recently. While most Top-Tension Gibsons sold were tenor models, the Style 12 was available in Plectrum or 5-string configuration by special order.
This banjo has been expertly converted to 5-string with an excellent replica neck by Robin Smith/Heartland, probably the finest builder of these. The repro neck unfortunately suffered a headstock crack some time back, which has been solidly repaired. Even so this is simply a fabulous find in a genuine pre-war, flat head Mastertone, one of the true "Holy grail" Gibson banjos in the world. The sound is spectacular, playability excellent and all the original components are extremely well preserved.
Overall length is 35 in. (88.9 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
While showing some relatively minor signs of use, this beautiful 85+ year old banjo shows only light wear overall, with no alterations to the original components. As noted the reproduction 5-string neck suffered a typical split at the base of the headstock. This has been repaired solidly but is plainly visible; this could be "neatened up" if desired and of course another repro neck could be substituted; none of the *original* parts of the banjo were affected. The frets on the repro neck show light wear but despite the mishap it is fully playable, a very high quality piece of work. There are railroad spikes at frets 7, 8 and 9.
The original resonator finish has some minor dings and dents but no heavy wear, the rim finish is even cleaner. The chrome-plated one-piece flange is in exceptionally fine condition with no distortion or damage at all, and no stripped threaded holes for the top-tension bolts. All hardware remains original including (of course) the original flat-head tone ring and even the 4-string Grover tailpiece; it is perfectly functionally strung with 5 strings. There is only minor plating wear to the chrome overall.
The original tenor neck (with the original tuners) and red-lined case are included, in excellent shape also with only some minor wear. In its original form the banjo does not look to have been played much. In its current configuration the head is a recent frosted Remo showing some wear to the surface from play, the bridge is a Snuffy Smith. A fitted Calton case is the resting place for the now-5-string instrument.
This TB-12 is an exciting and important piece of Gibson history, one of their more innovative pre-war instruments. These rare top tension banjos have become ever more sought after lately as some of the ultimate instruments for Bluegrass and beyond, and we are thrilled to offer another fine example. Overall Excellent - Condition.