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RARE Late 40's Gibson RB150 Bowtie 5 String Archtop Banjo & Original Case
Estimated price for orientation: 3 499 $
Category: Banjos
Class:
Description Brand: Gibson Model: RB150 Era: Late 1940's Country/Region of Manufacture: United States Number of Strings: 5
The Gibson rep identified it as an RB-250 model from the late 50s, but it is actually an RB-150 model from the late 40's. The RB-150 model had an un-bound headstock (as does yours). Also yours does not have a cast tone ring as the RB-250 model had, but rather a tone hoop (a hoop of rolled brass rod). The distinction is important to collector's.
Yours is actually a very cool banjo, and looks COMPLETELY original, except for the bridge. The reason I date yours to the late 40s is because of the FON number in the rim, the placement of the thumbscrews, the plastic tuner buttons, and the case, which is a transitional version that came out right after the war, but still used pre-war hardware.Regards, Eric
Description
| Brand: | Gibson | Model: | RB150 |
| Era: | Late 1940's | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| Number of Strings: | 5 |
The Gibson rep identified it as an RB-250 model from the late 50s, but it is actually an RB-150 model from the late 40's. The RB-150 model had an un-bound headstock (as does yours). Also yours does not have a cast tone ring as the RB-250 model had, but rather a tone hoop (a hoop of rolled brass rod). The distinction is important to collector's.
Yours is actually a very cool banjo, and looks COMPLETELY original, except for the bridge. The reason I date yours to the late 40s is because of the FON number in the rim, the placement of the thumbscrews, the plastic tuner buttons, and the case, which is a transitional version that came out right after the war, but still used pre-war hardware.Regards, Eric
Yours is actually a very cool banjo, and looks COMPLETELY original, except for the bridge. The reason I date yours to the late 40s is because of the FON number in the rim, the placement of the thumbscrews, the plastic tuner buttons, and the case, which is a transitional version that came out right after the war, but still used pre-war hardware.Regards, Eric