Gibson RB-170 5 String Banjo - REDUCED Start Price USD 700.00 Current Price USD 700.00 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price USD 800.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, October 04, 2008 End Time Thursday, October 09, 2008 Location Kingsport, TN See more about 'Gibson RB-170 5 String Banjo - REDUCED' Description Gibson 5 String Banjo, RB-170 model, serial number 103XXX.  The banjo was made in 1963. It is an open back 24 bracket banjo (no resonator). Banjo is in excellent shape. I am the second owner. I bought the banjo in the mid 70’s. I played it on and off for a few years, but I’m a guitar player, so it’s seen very little use. I purchased the banjo with a small nick on the corner and right edge of the headstock (see photos). All the chrome hardware is in great shape. The 5/8” black rim and headstock has small hairline age/finish lines which one would expect to see on a forty five year old instrument. I took a couple of photos extremely close up to reveal the age lines.   The banjo came in an unpadded soft shell case, but I didn’t feel it protected the banjo, so I purchased a hard shell case w/ key for it years ago. I thought at some point I would buy a resonator for the banjo, so the case is a standard 5-String case.    The banjo has such good tone and volume that I never purchased a resonator. The banjo has two spikes, one on the 7th and one on the 9th frets. I just removed the old Grover #96 5/8” bridge and replaced it with a new Grover #95 ½” bridge. I recently replaced the strings with new Vega light gauge strings (9’s). The banjo has a Grover geared 5th string tuner and tension style tail piece. All the tuning keys work fine, and the original white/cream tuning knobs are in great shape. The frets show minimal wear. The mahogany neck with 22 frets and Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard is straight and true with pearloid inlay dots and a “dove wing” headstock. The Banjo has an 11” frosted top head and two coordinator rods. Intonation is very good, scale length is ~26 ½”.   Why am I selling the banjo? As I mentioned earlier, I’m a guitar player. My hope is to sell the Banjo to purchase a 24” short scale guitar. The banjo will make someone an excellent instrument. As with anything Gibson made in the early sixties, this banjo is quality throughout. I'll be happy to provide additional photos. There's a 1968 RB-170 on consignment at Elderly currently listed at $1000. Good luck bidding, I hope you win this vintage Gibson banjo!!!   Note: Cashiers check or money order must clear at the bank before item ships.   Note: Banjo may be removed as it is also listed in the Banjo Hangout Classifieds   Place a Bid!