Need Help/Info!!! Gibson Banjo RB-250? Found in Pawn Shop

[Guest Danny Davis]

HELP! I'm trying to identify a banjo I recently ran across in a local Pawn Shop. They've got it listed pretty low, so I wanted to get the forum's opinion on whether this is legit or not. It's heavy duty, and plays/sounds great. The tag on it claims its an RB-250. I did not find the serial number on it in the short time I looked at it. It was not on the headstock (which I suppose is common with some eras of that model). I have yet to find a picture of an RB-250 with this specific inlay pattern. There's also no "Masterbuilt" plate on the fretboard. I also wasn't sure how many natural finish banjos Gibson has made. I know the bridge and tailpiece have been replaced, though the original tailpiece was in the case. Any help would be greatly appreciated. This forum would not allow me to embed these pics for some reason, so the links are below. Thanks!

 

 

 

http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/Danny_Effin_Davis/media/GibsonBanjo2_zpsclmx2c9q.jpeg.html?sort=3&o=2

 

http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/Danny_Effin_Davis/media/GibsonBanjo3_zpskcahknv6.jpeg.html?sort=3&o=4

 

http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/Danny_Effin_Davis/media/GibsonBanjo1_zpsguir2mnu.jpeg.html?sort=3&o=1

[OldCowboy]

Pop the resonater and see what's going on with the rim, tone ring, and such.

[Guest Danny (OP)]

Pop the resonater and see what's going on with the rim, tone ring, and such.

 

OP here.... they wouldn't let me open it up. Pawn Shops can be hesitant to let a customer take something apart before they sell it haha

 

Any idea about the inlay?

[Dave F]

You may want to post this in

 

Gibson Original Instruments

 

There's some experts in there.

 

 

 

[OldCowboy]

OP here.... they wouldn't let me open it up. Pawn Shops can be hesitant to let a customer take something apart before they sell it haha

 

Any idea about the inlay?

I have a hunch that the banjo may be a 'conversion' - originally a tenor, perhaps. The new neck may or may not (likely not) be factory. That's not really a negative thing, happens a lot, but shouldn't be passed off as standard production. I could be mistaken, as I'm not a banjo expert by any means. Anyhow, the inlay doesn't correspond to what they're calling it in terms of model. A real banjo person can probably tell you exactly what it is - and I second the advice to post on Gibson Original Instruments. Hope it turns out to be a good'n, especially if the asking price is low!