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Gibson Five-String Banjo

National Museum of American History

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Object Details

Gibson, Inc.
Description (Brief)

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
1940=1942
1940-1942
ID Number
1981.0157.01
accession number
1981.0157
catalog number
1981.0157.01
Object Name
banjo
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
place made
United States: Michigan, Kalamazoo
See more items in
Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
Banjos
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_606284
Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-4918-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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