Bernunzio's had this for several months now.

I think the market demographic for this banjo, a truly unique instrument, might be < 1. It's just too expensive. Also, bluegrass picker/collectors tend to shy away from "restored" banjos, even though this one certainly looks like an extremely experienced hand was at work.

My skepticism only reared its head when the description said it has a walnut resonator and mahogany neck. That seems unlike Gibson...I guess...

I think it has been pretty extensively documented...but I'm not a fan of the restoration. I've always thought Richelieu went too far to make them look "perfect". I'm never going to be a buyer, so that's just another opinion.

Way overpriced...but at this level, we're talking about a museum bidding from deep donor pockets.

quote:hmm  what about without the case,   I got plenty of cases

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Originally posted by NNYJoe

1931 Gibson RB-AA All American

bernunzio.com/product/gibson-a...an-30172/

And yes, the price is $250,000. But it comes with the original case!

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And, without the case you can knock off two of those zeros, $2500! banjered

The “restoration” is a red flag for me too. CCR was a plectrum player as I recall, but 4-string players, it seems to me, seek banjos that look new and unworn; they want restoration that is beyond that needed to make an instrument playable. 5-string players prefer “honest wear” as long as long as it doesn’t affect playability. Richelieu, unfortunately, applied four-string taste to a five-string banjo, effectively shrinking the potential market for this banjo. $150k would have been ballpark in the heyday of the pre-war flathead market, but those days are gone. John B knows that he won’t sell this to a player to use, but a collector who finds value in the banjo’s uniqueness—and has deep pockets.

quote:

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Originally posted by NNYJoe

1931 Gibson RB-AA All American

bernunzio.com/product/gibson-a...an-30172/

And yes, the price is $250,000. But it comes with the original case!

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Ha. Maybe Jerry Garcia looked at it one day. Maybe he even touched it!

I think I would try to get them to thrown in a capo, some strings, and maybe a new F-250. Seriously, what would someone do with this? I wouldn't play it because the wear on the fretboard etchings would devalue it further. These are not good financial investments (appreciation not great, risk of loss/theft). You're not going to take it to a jam. Interesting museum piece, but this is going to be a very tiny market.

Throw in a set of strings and you got a deal! Lol

quote:

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

Bernunzio's had this for several months now.

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At this point, I think it has been at least a couple of years.

The reality is that having it for sale at a large price and NOT selling it is valuable.

How often does one small music store get this much coverage.

I mean, people just keep posting about this. Bernunzio gets clicks to their website.

Needs a scoop.

Joel's post ^^ reminds me of a bit of our family lore.   We had neighbours of German extraction.   The father had migrated from Germany and still maintained some emotional (?) ties to the homeland when WWII rolled around.  He was none too pleased when his adult son, who had joined him in operating the farm, joined the Canadian Army.   He showed his displeasure (?) by offering to sell a quarter of land to my Dad, instead of to his son .... for the v-e-r-y attractive price of $1000.  My Dad's reaction was: "... made no difference ... I didn't even have a thousand cents."

Interesting and somewhat disquieting story. how did that old man deal with stuff after they got their kicking? Please pardon the thread drift.
Ken

There is a picture of Ralph sitting in his living room playing one of these, but I think it was a copy.
ken

$250k? That's like 83,000 cheeseburgers.

quote:

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Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossom

Interesting and somewhat disquieting story. how did that old man deal with stuff after they got their kicking? Please pardon the thread drift.
Ken

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Dunno ... by the time I was old enough to be privy to the story, the father, and his wife were no longer in the area ... either dead or retired elsewhere, I presume.  Things between the father and son must have gotten smoothed over [at least outwardly] ... when the son finished his military service [not sure if he was involved in actual "fighting," but I suspect not] the son carried on with the farm and so far as I know no land got sold outside of the family.  The quarter that had been offered to my Dad was eventually passed down to a grandson [a couple of years younger than me].  They were regarded as good farmers, but "all business."

Thanks Owen, An interesting story and time in history. My Dad's family was from Germany and my Dad and his brother ran down to sign up after Pearl H. ...as many many did
ken

Surprised there's not an apple pie depicted somewhere.

I don't think anyone will ever pay that price for this banjo, but you can't blame them for trying!! The family of the last owner (now deceased) placed it on consignment with Bernunzio about 4 years ago now. I don't consider it a museum piece because of the extent of its restoration. Many consider it the most rare banjo ever produced in the prewar years by Gibson. And considering that it is an original flathead, 1-piece flange 5-string banjo (the Holy Grail), the value is certainly substantial. But the list of buyers must be quite small, which might partly explain why it hasn't sold yet. I like the old banjo.........kind in a sentimental way.......because it was originally bought by a man from the area in which I live now. Waiting to strike that lottery!!!

Is it 100% guaranteed that Gibson did indeed make a 5 string example of this banjo?

There is some interesting info out there about this one, including this FB post. If you look in the comments, there is a picture of Don Reno playing it at a festival

There's a Bluegrass Today post about it also

The provenance looks solid.

quote:

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Originally posted by steve davis

Is it 100% guaranteed that Gibson did indeed make a 5 string example of this banjo?

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Yes. This banjo is fully documented. With photos of the original owner holding it. 

This is similar to other things such as paintings & other rare things. They are only “worth” exorbitant amounts because somebody is dumb enough to pay it.

Values change over time.
Chippendale furniture lost a lot of value around 2010.
I asked Jimmy Cox about investing in prewar Gibsons a few years ago (he had been an investment banker) and he advised against it.

I like my custom AA on a prewar rim, with a 70's factory resonator, original binding, neck by Don Bryant and Greg Rich, engraving by Greg Rich.

Expensive to build, but, not that much.

flickr.com/gp/kodakcollector/4Ak49ihEfX

Sorry, the restoration ruined that banjo. Still one of a kind.