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musical instrument details
’27 Gibson Mastertone TB-4 Conversion 5-string banjo, tube/plate, archtop, NR!
Estimated price for orientation: 1 999 $
Category: Banjos
Class:
Description Brand: Gibson Model: Mastertone TB-4 Banjo Type: Converted tenor Country/Region of Manufacture: United States Number of Strings: 5 Era: 1925 Exact Year: 1927
For auction is this beautiful 1927-era Gibson TB-4 tenor banjo, with a vintage 5-string conversion, done in the ‘70s. The conversion neck was made by Diane Patrick, whose name has seemed to have disappeared over the years; it’s a beautiful piece of work with complex fretboard inlay & an ornate engraved metal truss rod cover. The neck is straight with plenty of room to adjust both ways on the truss rod. It’s equipped with Keith tuners & four railroad spikes, the first five frets have moderate wear. I disassembled the banjo to ascertain what parts are original (I am in the repair business, Guitar E.R., Anderson, IN); you’ll see that the resonator, rim, tension hoop & unique tube/plate flange are all vintage 1920s. The tone ring was made by the Liberty Banjo Co. in the ‘70s (now out of business), often referred to as the “Rolls Royce” of banjo parts makers. It has no holes, but does have a gap around the archtop edge, for better tone. The resonator indicates that this is a ‘20s TB-4 (rather than the plainer TB-3), with white/black binding on the edge & two similar inlaid rings on the back. It has its original finish, in very nice shape. The rim no longer has the original label or lot number - having been refinished years ago - but its features easily date it to the late ‘20s (it was manufactured to only accommodate the tube/plate-type flange). This TB-4, reassembled, sounds wonderful. I’m no banjo expert, but every player that has heard this instrument has been totally knocked out. Included with this TB-4 conversion is a Gibson hard shell case made in the ‘60s (the purple interior indicates the decade) in decent shape, all latches & hinges work. If you’ve been looking for a great old pre-war Mastertone, this is a fine one; converted & ready to “roll”, so to speak. Get your bid in, there is NO RESERVE on this listing! ********************************************************* PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS *BEFORE* BIDDING, “Buyer’s Remorse” is not good for the seller OR buyer. Paypal ONLY, NO SHIPPING OUTSIDE LOWER 48 STATES! Item(s) will be well-packed & shipped via USPS Priority Mail, use the calculator to determine the rate to your locality. Payment MUST BE MADE WITHIN SEVEN DAYS (by the accepted means of payment). I WILL NOT SHIP OUTSIDE THE CONTINENTAL U.S. (other than with the eBay Global Shipping program). Thanks for looking and/or bidding!
Description
| Brand: | Gibson | Model: | Mastertone TB-4 |
| Banjo Type: | Converted tenor | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| Number of Strings: | 5 | Era: | 1925 |
| Exact Year: | 1927 |
For auction is this beautiful 1927-era Gibson TB-4 tenor banjo, with a vintage 5-string conversion, done in the ‘70s. The conversion neck was made by Diane Patrick, whose name has seemed to have disappeared over the years; it’s a beautiful piece of work with complex fretboard inlay & an ornate engraved metal truss rod cover. The neck is straight with plenty of room to adjust both ways on the truss rod. It’s equipped with Keith tuners & four railroad spikes, the first five frets have moderate wear. I disassembled the banjo to ascertain what parts are original (I am in the repair business, Guitar E.R., Anderson, IN); you’ll see that the resonator, rim, tension hoop & unique tube/plate flange are all vintage 1920s. The tone ring was made by the Liberty Banjo Co. in the ‘70s (now out of business), often referred to as the “Rolls Royce” of banjo parts makers. It has no holes, but does have a gap around the archtop edge, for better tone. The resonator indicates that this is a ‘20s TB-4 (rather than the plainer TB-3), with white/black binding on the edge & two similar inlaid rings on the back. It has its original finish, in very nice shape. The rim no longer has the original label or lot number - having been refinished years ago - but its features easily date it to the late ‘20s (it was manufactured to only accommodate the tube/plate-type flange). This TB-4, reassembled, sounds wonderful. I’m no banjo expert, but every player that has heard this instrument has been totally knocked out. Included with this TB-4 conversion is a Gibson hard shell case made in the ‘60s (the purple interior indicates the decade) in decent shape, all latches & hinges work. If you’ve been looking for a great old pre-war Mastertone, this is a fine one; converted & ready to “roll”, so to speak. Get your bid in, there is NO RESERVE on this listing! ********************************************************* PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS *BEFORE* BIDDING, “Buyer’s Remorse” is not good for the seller OR buyer. Paypal ONLY, NO SHIPPING OUTSIDE LOWER 48 STATES! Item(s) will be well-packed & shipped via USPS Priority Mail, use the calculator to determine the rate to your locality. Payment MUST BE MADE WITHIN SEVEN DAYS (by the accepted means of payment). I WILL NOT SHIP OUTSIDE THE CONTINENTAL U.S. (other than with the eBay Global Shipping program). Thanks for looking and/or bidding!