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It’s got to be one of the finest sounding tenor banjos used for the Irish Trad scene. This TB3 banjo came from it’s original owner in the California area and is all original apart from the mylar head which I recently fitted (original calf skin head comes with it. See some details below from the Gibson manufacturers description.

The tone ring and flange designs changed at least three times during the TB 3’s production. Initial 1925 and early 1926 models used a classic ball-bearing tone ring, then for later 1926-1928 a solid archtop tone ring, and finally the flathead tone ring for 1929. The flange for the 1925-1928 models is two piece, with the one piece flange appearing in 1929.

At this point, Gibson often did not use serial numbers. On this banjo, the FON or Factory Order Number is 9478-159; the 9478 indicates a particular lot of instruments, and the 159 is the position of this instrument in that lot. With those numbers and the characteristics of the tone ring and flange, this banjo dates to the 1927 or 1928 period.   It was naturally built at the historic Gibson Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  

For Sale… Please email for details

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Featured here is a marriage of a American built vintage Vega Vegaphone neck with a English built openback pot. I know ‘marriages’ don’t work out for some!! but this marriage looks made in heaven!!! As seen from the photos this is a lovely looking little banjo which plays and sounds great. It is just the right weight for someone looking a banjo that will not brake their legs and is a perfect travel companion, especially travelling on flights. The Vega neck is straight with good playing action and good frets. The original Grover Tab 2 tuners have been changed over for equally as good Grover pancake tuners. The Windsor pot is built from maple ply overspun with outer metal which is nickel plated. 28 shoes, hooks & nuts and suspended tone ring which gives this little banjo some cutting power and tone sustain. Newly fitted kershener type tail piece, Remo head and new maple and ebony bridge. Fitted with phospher bronze strings and comes with (what looks original Windsor case).

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