Gibson RB-800 5 String Resonator Banjo (1988)
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Item # 6239
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Gibson RB-800 Model 5 String Resonator Banjo (1988), made in Nashville, TN, natural lacquer finish, maple neck, rim and resonator, original black hard shell case.
An interesting and fairly rare (if not particularly old) Gibson Mastertone banjo, this natural finish RB-800 is both a looker and a player! This banjo was custom built to order early in the "Greg Rich" era at Gibson, generally considered to have been the best time for the company's 5-string output since the 1930's. According to the original owner, it was ordered from the Gibson Custom Shop but never collected, and later sold off by the company through a prominent New York dealer. The features include a 3-ply rim, 3-piece laminate neck, tube-and-plate flange, Flying eagle inlay, fiddle pattern peghead and heavy flathead tone ring. The RB-800 is a fairly obscure model, but quite fancy, with wood marquetry alongside the binding on the fingerboard and resonator and gold plated hardware. Heavily flamed maple on the neck and resonator sides and back, in a rare natural finish-unusual for this model. A showpiece banjo that also makes a great player.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/2 in. (673 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). Splendid original condition; some light plating wear but very little evidence of use-just small scuffs and dents into the finish. Expertly refretted early on-there are a couple of small splits in the neck binding at the 12th fret as a result. Two of the tuner buttons are slightly mismatched, but are all from the same period and the screws are correctly fitted. Set up with a Snuffy Smith bridge; plays and sounds excellent, a superb example of a Custom Mastertone from this era. Very powerful sound with more depth than many of the more recent Gibson banjos. Excellent + Condition.
An interesting and fairly rare (if not particularly old) Gibson Mastertone banjo, this natural finish RB-800 is both a looker and a player! This banjo was custom built to order early in the "Greg Rich" era at Gibson, generally considered to have been the best time for the company's 5-string output since the 1930's. According to the original owner, it was ordered from the Gibson Custom Shop but never collected, and later sold off by the company through a prominent New York dealer. The features include a 3-ply rim, 3-piece laminate neck, tube-and-plate flange, Flying eagle inlay, fiddle pattern peghead and heavy flathead tone ring. The RB-800 is a fairly obscure model, but quite fancy, with wood marquetry alongside the binding on the fingerboard and resonator and gold plated hardware. Heavily flamed maple on the neck and resonator sides and back, in a rare natural finish-unusual for this model. A showpiece banjo that also makes a great player.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/2 in. (673 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). Splendid original condition; some light plating wear but very little evidence of use-just small scuffs and dents into the finish. Expertly refretted early on-there are a couple of small splits in the neck binding at the 12th fret as a result. Two of the tuner buttons are slightly mismatched, but are all from the same period and the screws are correctly fitted. Set up with a Snuffy Smith bridge; plays and sounds excellent, a superb example of a Custom Mastertone from this era. Very powerful sound with more depth than many of the more recent Gibson banjos. Excellent + Condition.