Jim Leggett Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 My wife inherited a 6 string Banjo(?) a few years ago and have been trying to identify its manufacturing date and approximate value. Iside the head(?) there is a Warranty statement and it says "Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company Kalamazoo Michigan. This is seems to be painted on rather than a sticker. There is also a serial number 11821 stamped in the wood handle(?) than comes down inside the head. Up on the handle were you adjust the strings it says "The Gibson" in pearl inlay. Below that is a Fleur-De-Lis symbol also in pearl inlay. Can anyone let me know what I have and if it is worth anything? I was planning on selling it in a garage sale in a couple of Weeks/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 My wife inherited a 6 string Banjo(?) a few years ago and have been trying to identify its manufacturing date and approximate value. Iside the head(?) there is a Warranty statement and it says "Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company Kalamazoo Michigan. This is seems to be painted on rather than a sticker. There is also a serial number 11821 stamped in the wood handle(?) than comes down inside the head. Up on the handle were you adjust the strings it says "The Gibson" in pearl inlay. Below that is a Fleur-De-Lis symbol also in pearl inlay. Can anyone let me know what I have and if it is worth anything? I was planning on selling it in a garage sale in a couple of Weeks/ Welcome to the forum, Jim. I would say that your banjo is almost certainly worth something! A lot of the value depends on the condition and originality of the instrument- the six string neck sounds a bit suspect. I know they did make a few of those however so it could very well be original. Pictures are the best way for us to help you so post some if you have them. Thanks for sharing it with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Jim sent me these pictures of his banjo to post: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan H Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I would So buy that if it was priced well...I've always wanted a Ganjo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Man! I have never seen a beast like that. Way cool! Something very un-Gibson-like about it though. Whats up with the 'trap doors' on the back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Jim, does it have a case? It looks to be in pretty good condition for not having a case... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 What you have there is a c1923 Gibson Style GB (GB=guitar banjo) which was a popular instrument with guitar players that wanted to double on banjo. Tuned just like a guitar. Here's a catalog picture from 1923. It has to be at least pre-1924 when Gibson changed its name to Gibson, Inc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 What you have there is a c1923 Gibson Style GB (GB=guitar banjo) which was a popular instrument with guitar players that wanted to double on banjo. Tuned just like a guitar. Here's a catalog picture from 1923. It has to be at least pre-1924 when Gibson changed its name to Gibson, Inc. Paul, Looks to me like something I would call "the bluegrass guitar player's revenge". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Leggett Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Jim, does it have a case? It looks to be in pretty good condition for not having a case... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Leggett Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 It does have a case which is in prety bad shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Here is something similar : http://www.thepodium.com/p-17382-gibson-gb-4-guitar-banjo.aspx Probably not right to be garage sale fodder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Paul, Looks to me like something I would call "the bluegrass guitar player's revenge". I can't imagine that Gibson sold a lot of these even back in the 1920s. I believe they were discontiued sometime in the mid-30s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I can't imagine that Gibson sold a lot of these even back in the 1920s. I believe they were discontiued sometime in the mid-30s. And we are all the better for their having stopped making them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 And we are all the better for their having stopped making them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delmo Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 My wife inherited a 6 string Banjo(?) a few years ago and have been trying to identify its manufacturing date and approximate value. Iside the head(?) there is a Warranty statement and it says "Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company Kalamazoo Michigan. This is seems to be painted on rather than a sticker. There is also a serial number 11821 stamped in the wood handle(?) than comes down inside the head. Up on the handle were you adjust the strings it says "The Gibson" in pearl inlay. Below that is a Fleur-De-Lis symbol also in pearl inlay. Can anyone let me know what I have and if it is worth anything? I was planning on selling it in a garage sale in a couple of Weeks/ I would be interested in buying it. my private email is david.bunn@mac.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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