Gibson RB-175 Long Neck 5 String Banjo (1964)
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Gibson RB-175 Long Neck Model 5 String Banjo (1964), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 193473, brown lacquer finish, laminated maple rim, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, period black hard shell case.
One thing you've got to give Gibson, over more than a century they rarely missed a trick. Seeing the success Vega was suddenly enjoying with banjos when the late-'50s "Folk Boom" hit, Gibson quickly moved to get in on the game. The unadorned openback RB-170 was Kalamazoo's first "folk" banjo introduced in 1960, quickly followed up with this long-necked Seeger-style sister, the RB-175. The Kingston Trio made having one of these extended-scale openbacks essential for any aspiring folk ensemble, and Gibson was more than ready to help!
With a plain brass tone ring in its openback rim, The RB-175 is not as powerful as Vega's Tubaphone-equipped Pete Seeger signature model but a step up from typical "folk" banjos offered by Harmony or Kay. This particular example dates to 1964, the peak production year when 1150 were shipped from Kalamazoo. The next year showed the full effect of the Beatle-inspired electric guitar boom and RB-175 sales dropped drastically. The model finally disappeared from Gibson's line in 1973 with a total just north of 2700 shipped over 11 years.
With an unbound dot inlaid neck and simple openback rim, the RB-170 is fairly austere instrument but classically Gibson in looks. It employs the simpler single coordinator rod system and the typical 1960's "open book" style peghead is fitted with geared "pancake" tuning pegs. The RB-175 offers a more rounded and mellow tone than the Deluxe Vega Seeger model,
similar to the their simpler "Folk Wonder" version. Any of these would have been the prime choice in a 5-string banjo for someone joining a folk group, with the extended range neck popularized by Pete Seeger. The RB-175 still serves this niche well, and is a fun banjo to play, especially if you want to jam with your blues-playing friends in E!
Overall length is 42 5/8 in. (108.3 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 32 in. (813 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This is a fairly well played in but largely original banjo, looking to have seen a decent amount of play time since the tail end of the folk boom! There is play wear overall, including dings, dents and worn away areas to the back of the long neck and chips and dings to the rim, headstock and heel. The hardware is largely original, including the hoop, hooks, nuts, 4 headstock tuners and coordinator rod, which has an old tape mark in the center. The tailpiece and 5th string tuner are old but not original, the tailpiece bracket appears newer.
The nickel plating on the hooks has more corrosion than the rest of the instrument. The original larger frets have been polished out and play very well. This is a good sounding and underrated folk banjo from Gibson, not a Vega of course but still an excellent authentic instrument for its intended purpose! Includes a worn but very nice period Lifton HSC, likely intended originally for a Vega Seeger model. Overall Very Good + Condition.
One thing you've got to give Gibson, over more than a century they rarely missed a trick. Seeing the success Vega was suddenly enjoying with banjos when the late-'50s "Folk Boom" hit, Gibson quickly moved to get in on the game. The unadorned openback RB-170 was Kalamazoo's first "folk" banjo introduced in 1960, quickly followed up with this long-necked Seeger-style sister, the RB-175. The Kingston Trio made having one of these extended-scale openbacks essential for any aspiring folk ensemble, and Gibson was more than ready to help!
With a plain brass tone ring in its openback rim, The RB-175 is not as powerful as Vega's Tubaphone-equipped Pete Seeger signature model but a step up from typical "folk" banjos offered by Harmony or Kay. This particular example dates to 1964, the peak production year when 1150 were shipped from Kalamazoo. The next year showed the full effect of the Beatle-inspired electric guitar boom and RB-175 sales dropped drastically. The model finally disappeared from Gibson's line in 1973 with a total just north of 2700 shipped over 11 years.
With an unbound dot inlaid neck and simple openback rim, the RB-170 is fairly austere instrument but classically Gibson in looks. It employs the simpler single coordinator rod system and the typical 1960's "open book" style peghead is fitted with geared "pancake" tuning pegs. The RB-175 offers a more rounded and mellow tone than the Deluxe Vega Seeger model,
similar to the their simpler "Folk Wonder" version. Any of these would have been the prime choice in a 5-string banjo for someone joining a folk group, with the extended range neck popularized by Pete Seeger. The RB-175 still serves this niche well, and is a fun banjo to play, especially if you want to jam with your blues-playing friends in E!
Overall length is 42 5/8 in. (108.3 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 32 in. (813 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This is a fairly well played in but largely original banjo, looking to have seen a decent amount of play time since the tail end of the folk boom! There is play wear overall, including dings, dents and worn away areas to the back of the long neck and chips and dings to the rim, headstock and heel. The hardware is largely original, including the hoop, hooks, nuts, 4 headstock tuners and coordinator rod, which has an old tape mark in the center. The tailpiece and 5th string tuner are old but not original, the tailpiece bracket appears newer.
The nickel plating on the hooks has more corrosion than the rest of the instrument. The original larger frets have been polished out and play very well. This is a good sounding and underrated folk banjo from Gibson, not a Vega of course but still an excellent authentic instrument for its intended purpose! Includes a worn but very nice period Lifton HSC, likely intended originally for a Vega Seeger model. Overall Very Good + Condition.