Gibson TB-800 Mastertone Deluxe Tenor Banjo (1960s)
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Item # 12466
Prices subject to change without notice.
Gibson TB-800 Mastertone Deluxe Model Tenor Banjo (1960s), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # AA55, cherry sunburst finish, laminated maple rim and resonator, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a 1960's Gibson TB-800, the company's newly introduced high-end banjo of the period and a rather rare one as well, with only 52 total shipped from 1964-69. At the time there was increased demand for 5-string banjos due to the rising popularity of bluegrass, and in a reversal of the 1930's formula these very fancy tenors are actually much rarer then the corresponding RB-800. Both versions represent Gibson's return to elaborately decorated banjo designs after a couple of decades of offering only comparatively plain instruments.
The Mastertone Style 800 was introduced as Gibson's the top-of-the-line banjo in 1964, described rather uncreatively (for Gibson) as a "New exciting banjo". It did not make the '63-64 Gibson catalog but appeared on the September 1964 price list at $845 complete with the HSC. This was a pretty eye-popping figure, one of the highest prices for any Gibson save the Super 400 and Johnny Smith guitars. In 1967 this was raised to $895; it's no wonder few were actually sold.
The style 800 was not an exact re-issue of any previous model but an amalgamation of features. The engraved pearl "MASTERTONE" fingerboard block harks back to the 1920's, and indeed the entire instrument is a direct descendant of the fancy 4-string banjos of that era. All the hardware is gold-plated and much of it engraved. The ebony fingerboard is bound with colored wood marquetry on the sides; the same inlaid wood pattern is used on both edges of the resonator. The fingerboard and headstock face have pearl inlay in the old "flying eagle" pattern; the headstock shape is the early 1930's slimmer profile. The resonator has heavily bound edges and two circles of 3-ply inlay on the back. The tuners are gold-plated cast-housing Klusons, as used on the Firebird VII.
The tone ring is the vintage flat-head Mastertone style, considered essential by Bluegrass players since the 1930's. The flange the cast one-piece style also considered a vital ingredient of that sound, not the tube-and-plate Gibson reverted to in the 1970's. This banjo has only a single coordinator rod; some examples have the dual rod system. The finish is a medium shaded brown-to-yellow sunburst on the neck and resonator back; the model was listed as finished "to order" so there were several options available.
As expensive as Gibson's highest end guitars, the Style was a thoroughly professional instrument. These very expensive banjos were generally built only to order. The "Custom" engraving on the truss rod cover was standard on this model, which was essentially a custom order instrument with sometimes variable features. The unusual "AA" series serial number stamped inside the rim makes this TB-800 impossible to date exactly, but the logo style suggests fabrication between 1964-8. The window for its construction is fairly narrow anyway. Set up with a plastic head (as it was originally) this is a very flashy looking and powerful sounding banjo, absolutely the top tenor of its era.
Overall length is 34 1/2 in. (87.6 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This banjo remains beautifully original (save for the head and strings; even the Grover bridge is period if not original) and shows only light general wear and tear. We are told it was professionally used with small local combos in the Midwest but always well cared for. The finish is quite clean overall showing only a few light dings and minor scuffing, most notably tiny chips on the headstock edges. There is general plating wear overall which as typical is heavier on the tailpiece and especially the armrest, where much of the gold is worn off. There is loss to some hooks as well. The original frets have been lightly re-crowned wear but the banjo plays very well with an extremely powerful sound. It includes the nice original Gibson HSC with the signature yellow plush lining. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a 1960's Gibson TB-800, the company's newly introduced high-end banjo of the period and a rather rare one as well, with only 52 total shipped from 1964-69. At the time there was increased demand for 5-string banjos due to the rising popularity of bluegrass, and in a reversal of the 1930's formula these very fancy tenors are actually much rarer then the corresponding RB-800. Both versions represent Gibson's return to elaborately decorated banjo designs after a couple of decades of offering only comparatively plain instruments.
The Mastertone Style 800 was introduced as Gibson's the top-of-the-line banjo in 1964, described rather uncreatively (for Gibson) as a "New exciting banjo". It did not make the '63-64 Gibson catalog but appeared on the September 1964 price list at $845 complete with the HSC. This was a pretty eye-popping figure, one of the highest prices for any Gibson save the Super 400 and Johnny Smith guitars. In 1967 this was raised to $895; it's no wonder few were actually sold.
The style 800 was not an exact re-issue of any previous model but an amalgamation of features. The engraved pearl "MASTERTONE" fingerboard block harks back to the 1920's, and indeed the entire instrument is a direct descendant of the fancy 4-string banjos of that era. All the hardware is gold-plated and much of it engraved. The ebony fingerboard is bound with colored wood marquetry on the sides; the same inlaid wood pattern is used on both edges of the resonator. The fingerboard and headstock face have pearl inlay in the old "flying eagle" pattern; the headstock shape is the early 1930's slimmer profile. The resonator has heavily bound edges and two circles of 3-ply inlay on the back. The tuners are gold-plated cast-housing Klusons, as used on the Firebird VII.
The tone ring is the vintage flat-head Mastertone style, considered essential by Bluegrass players since the 1930's. The flange the cast one-piece style also considered a vital ingredient of that sound, not the tube-and-plate Gibson reverted to in the 1970's. This banjo has only a single coordinator rod; some examples have the dual rod system. The finish is a medium shaded brown-to-yellow sunburst on the neck and resonator back; the model was listed as finished "to order" so there were several options available.
As expensive as Gibson's highest end guitars, the Style was a thoroughly professional instrument. These very expensive banjos were generally built only to order. The "Custom" engraving on the truss rod cover was standard on this model, which was essentially a custom order instrument with sometimes variable features. The unusual "AA" series serial number stamped inside the rim makes this TB-800 impossible to date exactly, but the logo style suggests fabrication between 1964-8. The window for its construction is fairly narrow anyway. Set up with a plastic head (as it was originally) this is a very flashy looking and powerful sounding banjo, absolutely the top tenor of its era.
Overall length is 34 1/2 in. (87.6 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This banjo remains beautifully original (save for the head and strings; even the Grover bridge is period if not original) and shows only light general wear and tear. We are told it was professionally used with small local combos in the Midwest but always well cared for. The finish is quite clean overall showing only a few light dings and minor scuffing, most notably tiny chips on the headstock edges. There is general plating wear overall which as typical is heavier on the tailpiece and especially the armrest, where much of the gold is worn off. There is loss to some hooks as well. The original frets have been lightly re-crowned wear but the banjo plays very well with an extremely powerful sound. It includes the nice original Gibson HSC with the signature yellow plush lining. Overall Excellent - Condition.