Details
This Gibson Style MB-3 mandolin banjo was made in 1924 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the peak of Lloyd Loar’s tenure. It’s fitted with the trapdoor resonator, an elegant feature that allows the player to adjust the banjo’s projection with the turn of a screw. This is at the plainer end of Gibson’s range but it was made during a period when the company’s craftsmanship was top notch. This model has a simple maple shell without a tone ring, a setup that produced a relatively mellow tone, at least for a banjo. Gibson made mandolin banjos is several head sizes, but this small 9 inch diameter version is the most sought after as it has clarity and punch without the echoing overtones that plague the versions with a larger head. This example is in fine structural and cosmetic condition. The frets are in great shape and show very little wear. Includes the original hardshell case.
Specs
-
Fingerboard
Ebony
-
Finish
Original Varnish
-
Neck material
Maple
-
Nut width
1 1/16"
-
Scale length
13 7/8"
-
Tuners
Waverly
-
Year
1924
-
Diameter
9"
-
Resonator
Yes
-
Shell
Laminated Maple
-
Tone ring
Hollow Hoop
-
Case type
Original Hardshell
-
Serial number
11017A-11
-
SKU
GIBMB3TRAP-11017A11
-
UPC
141623
