This one has one of the very desireable brown rims with serial # 881-76 stamped inside. Curtis McPeake labels it a 1948-1949, as seen on a sticker in the resonator and also on the banjophiles web site. BUT, the old Tom Biggs Gibson Prewar serial # site shows the rim as a 1936. I don't know who is right, but you probably won't find a better sounding late-40s (I'll call it that) banjo. Hopkins traditional cut flathead tone ring, 5-string conversion neck, with fiddle peghead and Style 1 Gull inlays made by Johnny Rushing. Spikes at 7 & 9. Want to listen to this monster? http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/media-player/bho-player2.asp?musicid=344 You can e-mail either Royce, Gary Gregory (Kel Kroyden on the HO) or Jim Schroth (rb4player) and they can tell you about the banjo.
Full disclosure: It has three tiny holes on neck from Shubb capo, and two small filled-in holes that in the back of the resonator. (see pics) They certainly don't affect sound, and I decided to leave them, as that's the way it came to Gary Gregory years ago from Pennsylvania. Lifton HSC (yellow lining) included. I also had Richie Dodson install iveroid binding on the top part of the resonator to match the bottom - looks great! I hate to sell it, but I'm selling all and only keeping one banjo. E-mail me with any questions Thanks for looking!
