Details
Today most Gibson banjo fans have at least heard about the legendary "top-tension" models of the late 1930s, but it's difficult to imagine how different they must have appeared when introduced. Lathe-turned resonators, radiused fretboards, large art-deco neck inlays with no flowers or pearly squiggles....and you could easily tighten the head from the front! But the Great Depression was still stifling sales of expensive instruments and not many were sold.
Jump to the 1990s, when the top-tension models were reintroduced, and they again turned heads. The radiused fretboard and even tone up and down the neck, which had appealed to Bill Keith and other players of the melodic style, made Gibson Top-Tension models like this one a popular variant of the "Pre-War Mastertone".
This RB-12 hasn't seen much use, and is from one of the last small batches of this model that Gibson made. The tailpiece does not have the Gibson logo, so it's possible that part is not original while everything else on this banjo matches the specs. But for a variety of reasons Gibson had having difficulty procuring parts during this period, and it's possible the tailpiece shown was on it when shipped. It has that classic top-tension tone and clarity, with lots of headroom without sounding forced, something you don't have to play like Bill Keith to appreciate.
Specs
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Binding
Ivoroid
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Fingerboard
Rosewood
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Finish
Nitrocellulose Lacquer
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Inlay
art deco hexagons
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Neck material
Walnut
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Nut width
1 3/16"
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Scale length
26 3/16"
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Tuners
Original
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Year
2021
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Diameter
11"
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Flange
Cast
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Resonator
Yes
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Shell
3-Ply Maple
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Tone ring
Gibson Flathead
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Case type
Original Hardshell
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Serial number
12-1203
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SKU
GIBRB12-121203
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UPC
142105
