Hi - just joined the Banjo Hangout. I recently bought an RB-800 with a one piece flange, 3-ply maple rim, maple neck (looks like a 3 piece), and maple resonator. It's finished natural (looks blonde). The Serial Number on the back of the headstock runs down the center stripe (899157). There is no Made in USA stamp on the peghead and the truss rod cover has "Custom". Any help on identifying the production year is appreciated. I'm thinking it's a 60s model but hopefully someone in this group can shed some additional light on its age -- just curious if anyone has info that may help narrow it down to a more specific date. Thanks
6 Comments |
 | trock says:
1/30/2025 5:11:52 PM
Hello, congratulations on your purchase, any pictures? We like to look.
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solaak says:
1/31/2025 6:06:40 AM
Thanks. If I can figure out how to post pics will be glad to post. First attempts have been unsuccessful.
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 | dhergert says:
1/31/2025 8:42:07 AM
Short of a pic, some further description would be helpful. What is the peghead style (Fiddle shape or Double Cut shape?) Is this a 1-piece flange or 2-piece flange banjo?
The 3-piece neck places this in a post 1970 range, probably with a fiddle peghead and 2-piece flange, but your confirmation of the peghead and flange configuration will help.
Gruhn's book places this serial number in 1968, but the 3-piece neck adds confusion. Despite that, if the peghead is double cut and the flange is 1-piece, that might be an accurate date.
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| dhergert says:
1/31/2025 8:56:23 AM
Ahhh, excuse my poor reading of your original post...
1-piece flange, probably 1-piece maple neck. The rest of your description matches, I'm guessing it's a double cut peghead.
1968 is pretty reliable for that serial number and description.
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solaak says:
1/31/2025 2:13:10 PM
dhergert thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I do not see a way to upload photos. Searched the forum for help on the topic. It says I should see an "upload photos" type button at the bottom of page. Not seeing it. Perhaps because I just joined yesterday? Not sure.
Anyway, yes it's definitely a one-piece flange. However, it's not a one-piece neck. Has a black colored strip running from the back of the peghead to the neck heel. The peghead shape is (I'm guessing) what you are calling a double cut shape. It looks the same as the peghead shape I've seen in Gibson catalogs from the mid-60s for the RB-800 Mastertone Deluxe if that helps. Since the banjo is labeled "Custom", perhaps the original order was for a 3-piece instead of a 1-piece neck? No idea. Everything appears to be original but the 2/3 string tuners were replaced (original Kluson Firebirds in the Lifton case) with what appears to be early Keith Scruggs Bump tuners.
Your suggestion of 1968 for the serial number seems to be what I also found on banjophiles - so perhaps that is the date. Since the back of the peghead doesn't have the Made in USA stamp, that also made me think it may be pre-1970 but I'm not 100% positive when they added the Made in USA.
Again, thanks for your help. If at some point I'm able to post pictures will plan to do it.
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solaak says:
2/1/2025 6:08:25 AM
Hopefully 5 photos were uploaded to my page. However, I still don't see how to upload the photos to this thread. Please let me know if you can see the photos and if you have additional comments. And if you can tell me how to get the photos from the homepage to this thread it would be much appreciated. Thanks
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