Object Details
- Description
This banjo was made by Gibson, Inc. in Kalamazoo, Michigan around 1940-1942. It is a Five-String Banjo, style RB-100, marked #7075-4, with a maple shell, neck, and resonator, sunburst finish on the back (the neck may have been refinished as it doesn’t appear to have the same sunburst finish), rosewood fingerboard with pearl position dots, 24 brackets, 2:1 Grover tuners, and a friction fifth-string peg. The peghead shape is unique to style 00 banjos. There is no tone ring or brass hoop but only a bead turned in the top of the rim to serve as a bearing for the head. Silkscreened on peghead:
Gibson
The RB-100 banjo is described in a 1937 Gibson catalog X:
”So that anyone can own a genuine Gibson regular banjo, we have created this fine model for only $27.50. Similar to style TB-00 on page 48 except has 27” scale with 22 frets and five strings.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- maker
- Gibson, Inc.
- date made
- 1940=1942
- 1940-1942
- Physical Description
- maple (overall material)
- rosewood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- animal skin (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 38 in x 14 in x 3 1/4 in; 96.52 cm x 35.56 cm x 8.255 cm
- Object Name
- banjo
