5-string banjo: 11” head, synthetic skin head; dual coordinator rods, perforated tone ring;, engraved gold tension hoop, gold plated armrest, gold-plated tailpiece, 3-ply maple rim, maple resonator with burled walnut laminate and double ring checkered inlay, non-grained ivoroid resonator binding; walnut neck, flat rosewood fingerboard, Mother of Pearl “Wreath” fingerboard inlays, checkered fingerboard binding with mother of pearl top band, black headstock veneer with Mother of Pearl logo and Wreath inlays, stacked Mother of Pearl long heelcap, maple/rosewood flourish inlays on headstock rear, Grover floating maple bridge with ebony cap, Gotoh gold Planetary tuners with wooden buttons, 1 3/16” nut width, 26 1/4” scale; non-original black case; noted: This instrument’s FON (Factory Order Number) is listed in Spann’s Guide to Gibson as being a batch of TB-5s made in 1928; however, there are strong indications that this banjo has been pieced together: The engraving on tension hoop seems a little too clean/deep to be consistent with period engraving; the gold plating on the flange, armrest, and coordinator rods is a little too clean and new; no serial number or label on rim (which is possibly original; but, if so, definitely refinished!); and, the finish on the neck is also a little to clean and exhibits some inconsistency in terms of stain hue on the rear of the headstock; non-original case
