Details
Their Mastertone banjos were some of the first acoustic instruments that Gibson took seriously in the early 1970s when they realized the long-simmering demand for good US-made bluegrass-family instruments. With well-done hearts and flowers neck inlays, chain-link marquetry, a 20-hole bronze flathead tone ring, and a subtle sunburst on both resonator and neck, this RB-800 looks, sounds, and plays far better than the banjos Gibson had offered just a few years earlier.
This example, the top model in Gibson's banjo line at the time, has survived 50+ years in remarkably good condition and appears to be original throughout. Wear to the gold plating on the armrest, and the installation of a Shubb 5th string capo, tell us this Mastertone saw a fair amount of careful use, but the player had a light touch and thankfully there is only the lightest fret wear. It sounds and plays great.
Specs
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Binding
white celluloid
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Fingerboard
Ebony
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Finish
Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
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Inlay
Hearts & Flowers
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Neck material
3-Piece Maple
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Nut width
1 1/8"
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Scale length
26 1/4"
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Tuners
Gold Gibson Planetary
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Year
1972
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Diameter
11"
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Flange
Tube & Plate
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Resonator
Yes
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Shell
Multi-Ply Maple
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Tone ring
20-Hole Flathead
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Case type
Hardshell
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Serial number
128732
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SKU
GIBRB800-128732
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UPC
141861
