SOLD Brand: Gibson
Instrument Categories: Banjos, SOLD
For quite some time, Gibson banjos were standard professional grade instruments, and the Gibson TB-250 was their ‘entry level’ tenor banjo. From 1966 it was available as a MasterTone model with that tone ring. This model was built from 1954 to 1996.
Tenor banjos were very popular during the heyday of Dixieland Jazz music, providing percussive rhythm at a volume level that could easily compete with a horn section. After Dixeland fell out of favour, many tenor banjos were converted to 5-string by simply swapping necks. Currently, tenor banjos are often found in Celtic or Irish music contexts.
Gibson no longer produces banjos. The devastating floods of 2010 destroyed much of Gibson’s facilty, jigs and machinery; while production of guitars and mandolins resumed, banjo production did not.
This Gibson TB-250 is in overall good, largely original condition and was built during 1966 at the historic Kalamazoo, Michigan plant. As the base model, it uses Mahogany for the neck and resonator, and there is only single-layer binding. The fingerboard is Indian Rosewood. The hardware is original, including the pancake tuners and clamshell tailpiece. The metal parts are nickel plated and the plating itself is very clean. Fretwear is negligible, and the head is in good condition.
The original hard shell case is included.
- Model: TB-250 Mastertone
- Year: 1966
- Finish Natural
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 403012
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 31/05/2018
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 9.46lbs 4.3kg
- Scale Length: 22.75in 577mm
- Nut Width: 1.22in 31mm
