Gibson TB-4 Mastertone Tenor Banjo (1927)

Gibson  TB-4 Mastertone Tenor Banjo  (1927)
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Item # 7603
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Gibson TB-4 Mastertone Model Tenor Banjo (1927), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, natural mahogany finish, laminated maple/mahogany rim and resonator, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

The 1920's Mastertone TB-4 was one of Gibson's mid-line professional tenor banjos, a medium/fancy instrument and considered a Gibson classic. The model was next up the line above the TB-3 and has the full Mastertone flange, resonator, and tone ring hardware package. The resonator is multi-bound on both edges with two inlaid wood rings in the back. The 1927-era tone ring is a solid 40-hole arch-top piece, considered a huge improvement on the earlier ball bearing style. This is coupled with the 2-piece tube-and-plate flange in use at the time. While this combination is not as sought after in modern times by Bluegrass players this flange remains higher quality example of metalwork than the one-piece cast unit that replaced it a couple of years later.

The slim mahogany neck has a bound rosewood fingerboard ornamented with the hearts-and-flowers pearl inlay motif that is one of Gibson's classic looks. The headstock is also rather fancier then the TB-3, with a script Gibson logo and various filigrees in pearl. All hardware is chrome plated, considered an extravagance at the time. The TB-4 cost $150 in 1927, not an extravagant price for a 1920's tenor banjo but still an expensive proposition for most players. While not an exceptionally rare instrument the Style 4 was built in much smaller numbers than the "working man's' Style 3 and is much rarer today. This example has some history behind it and still plays and sounds excellent.
 
Overall length is 34 1/2 in. (87.6 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This TB-4 has some wear and tear, but retains all original parts except the tuning pegs. One of the four resonator retaining bolts is missing, the other three originals are intact. The chrome plating is quite well preserved. The original finish has dings, dents and scrapes most notably to the back of the resonator; the back of the neck has some wear but nothing too serious.

There are small stress cracks in the mahogany neck on either side of the headstock, solidly repaired but not overfinished so visible. This is not a playing issue, especially as the main value of this instrument lies in the Mastertone rim, 40-hole archtop tone ring and flange. This Style 4 is an excellent candidate for conversion to a 5-string bluegrass banjo, the eventual fate of most Mastertone tenors. As it stands the banjo is currently set up with a modern 5-star head and Planet-style tuners and is an excellent player.

This Gibson tenor has had an interesting life, at least it did a long time ago! It has been in the same family since new, and belonged to a female performer who used it professionally in the 1920's and '30's. It was set up with a hand-painted skin head and an internal lighting system that made the moon over a lake light up! Unfortunately over decades of storage the battery apparatus that powered this system degraded, corroding some of the internal hardware and also ruining the head. After some careful cleaning the coordinator rods are again working properly with nothing replaced, and we have left some residual pieces of the rather creative lighting rig intact. The damaged skin was returned to the family as a keepsake. The original HSC is still present. Very Good + Condition.