Those who own or enjoy the old Gibson Pyramid and Oriole banjos.

47 Members, Created 1/27/2011 -

Administrators: 5drive (owner)

1929 TB-2 9331-48 5-String Conversion

From G-run on 10/17/2013 12:29:25 AM

I hope this isn't too long-winded for the forum, but it's an interesting story to me because of the way Banjo Hangout and the forum made me aware of these special instruments.

I just picked up my pyramid conversion yesterday, and I'm really happy with the way it looks, plays, and sounds.  It was my grandfather's tenor banjo, and after he passed in the early 1950s, my uncle had it.  He lived on Long Island, my family lived in New Jersey, so we only saw him and family on holidays, and that was when the L5 guitars came out, two of my uncles played jazz guitar.  I never knew he had the tenor, and although I had pictures of my grandfather with tenor, I only saw an Orpheum and a tenor made from the top of an old oil drum (and my grandfather in minstrel garb). 

Years passed, I moved to California, raised a family, and lost relatives to old age.  My uncle with the tenor was the last of my father's brothers to pass, and when we traveled to New York for my daughter's college graduation, I visited my cousin on Long Island.  She was kind enough to give me my grandfather's Orpheum tenor, and she alluded to other instruments she had from my uncle, some of which came from my grandfather.  I asked her to send me an inventory to see if I could assist her selling them (which I've done by the way, there is a great L5-C about to be listed at Gryphon Strings, if you are into acoustic archtop jazz guitars check their web site).

I was playing bluegrass banjo, joined the hangout, and always checked the classifieds and the forums.  There were a number of posts about the Pyramid TB-2s that I noticed, but didn't think much of it.  Always thought I could never afford a real pre-war conversion.....  When I got the inventory from my cousin, in addition to Gibson and Martin guitars, there was a 1929 TB-2 listed.  I asked her to send me some pictures, and darned if it didn't look like the TB-2 was a bracket and shoe version that had a tone ring skirt.  Hmmm, could it be a pyramid?  Well, turned out that's exactly what it was, 9331-48.  Wanting to be fair, I got an appraisal from Gruhn based on the great pictures she sent, and we took it from there.

So, got the banjo over a year ago, and asked Larry Cohea of El Cerrito, CA, our local San Francisco Bay Area banjo guru to make a conversion neck for me, and time and his efforts took care of the rest.  It's not a historically correct conversion, I asked for a fiddle cut peg head rather than the original headstock shape.  Larry did a fantastic job of copying and hand cutting the original pearl inlays, did a perfect job of matching the neck to the resonator stain, and really cleaned the banjo up so it shines, not like new but like a well kept 80 year old banjo.  The neck has a great profile, the banjo had a perfect setup, I picked it up yesterday and went from his workshop to a great jam, and played it all evening.  That banjo matches everything all the folks in this forum have said about the pyramids.  Larry says it sounds like a Mastertone :-)

So, I need to thank Don Bryant and Bill Adams especially for keeping the interest up, and all the other folks who contribute their knowledge and enthusiasm; if it wasn't for you all, I wouldn't have pursued this family heritage banjo, and wouldn't have a fantastic pyramid conversion to play. 

3 Comments
	bryantde says: 10/17/2013 1:55:09 AM That is a good story and thanks for sharing it with us! You will love your pyramid banjo. Don Bryant
	myork1 says: 10/17/2013 5:08:10 AM Howard, Congratulations! I love that story, on several levels and can certainly relate to the "revelation" of a pyramid, thinking I could never own a pre-war, etc. Absolutely LOVE my '27 pyramid conversion w/a "speedy" Don Bryant neck! Good for you. :)
	Pre War Pyramid 9331-14 says: 10/20/2015 5:30:11 AM I too, am happy for you. You have a "special" one as it was in your family heritage PLUS they are really fun to play. Many people will hear your banjo and ask you what you are playing. These are quite rare and we only know about 40 or 50 to exist. Glad Don and I caught your ears on Pyramids !! > Bill Adams
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.