Gibson "TB-1" #M4397-48 PRICE REDUCED

Price: $2,650.00 USD

Here's one of the rarest of all Gibson banjo models, so rare that it never appeared in any Gibson catalog or price list. This lot of banjos remains a mystery; based on known factory order numbers, it likely consisted of fifty banjos. Gibson shipping ledgers show one of these banjos being returned to the factory for repair in 1936, so we know they date to sometime prior to that.

These banjos most closely resemble 1920s TB-3s, but have a simple brass tone hoop rather than a tone ring and bear a "The Gibson" label rather than the Mastertone label. There's a blank Mastertone block, there are three resonator screws as per usual for a non-Mastertone model, and the tailpiece is a Grover "window" or "first model" type with missing cover. The resonator binding is wider than typical for prewar Gibson banjos and the armrest is one-piece. The tuners are Grover "two-tabs".

These "M4397" banjos are the only known prewar Gibson banjos ever produced with two-piece-flange Mastertone-type construction but no tone ring. Two of these banjos appear as repairs in Gibson's shipping ledgers, one identified as a TB-1 and one as a TB-3. The condition is very good with playing wear to the resonator, one split to the resonator binding, and a few small splits inside the lip of the resonator (see photos at the link below). The case is a later 1930s Geib #511 red-line. Sorry, no trades. For complete photos, please visit earnestbanjo.com/wp/gibson-tb-1-m4397-48/. Thanks for looking!

Shipping: insured shipping to the lower 48 included

Posted By: Greg Earnest
United States, Smyrna, GA, 30080

Condition of Banjo: Used - Very Good Condition

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Type: 4-String, Brand: Gibson

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