FON 9782-1. This Amazing Banjo is still uncut, with no tone ring and retains the prewar one piece flange - tiny piece is broken just under tailpiece. It started its life as a plectrum banjo and we had Jason Barie convert that neck into a playable 5 string neck by splicing in some more wood for the fifth string, and adding a new fretboard. There is something special about an old wood neck meeting an old wood rim for a nice bluegrass sound! This banjo is super lightweight but very loud with plenty of tone!
100 years old! FON 8090-10.This amazing banjo still retains its ORIGINAL Ball Bearing Construction Tone Ring. Configured with a BRAND NEW Tim Davis Neck that is super comfortable to play; the craftsmanship and attention to detail is superb. Ebony fretboard with hearts and flower inlay, fiddle cut peghead with an extremely comfy semi-satin finish. This banjo comes recently setup with an old broken in head. All metal components are 100% original to this instrument too. Looking for that old school bluegrass sound? This banjo has IT!
1930s Gibson Style 00 Conversion Banjo with a brand new Tim Davis Neck! This Mahogany banjo has a fresh setup with a brand new neck we had built specifically for this instrument! There's no tone ring; in fact there's no brass hoop...which makes this banjo the lightest Prewar Gibson banjo configuration. New tuners, neck, head, bridge; plays and sounds exactly as it should! Original Prewar armrest, tension hoop, hooks and nuts and flange are all in great condition.
Looking for a reasonably priced Prewar Gibson Conversion Banjo that won't break your back? This might be the one!
F.O.N. 9691-3. This 1930 Gibson Banjo started its life as a tenor banjo as was recently converted with a brand new neck made by Tim Davis specifically for this banjo. It features the original (prewar) tension hoop, flange, armrest, hooks and nuts, and resonator screws. It has all of the magic the a Prewar Gibson Banjo should have and is a few pounds lighter than most bluegrass banjos in that it hasn't been cut for a tone ring.
This is one of the best sounding and playing Prewar Conversions to have come though Turtle Hill Banjo Co, by far! Fresh setup with new head, and Prucha bridge.
F.O.N. 8353-59. This Gibson banjo started its life as a tenor banjo (TB-2) made in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1926. It is currently setup with a 5 string string conversion neck made by Tom Nechville with its "flux capacitor" design making it extremely easy to change the neck angle on this instrument. Simply take an Allen wrench to loosen the neck joint, and set your banjo's action higher or lower in just a couple of seconds. This is a great design to also try different height bridges without requiring "major surgery" on your banjo!
The metal parts on this banjo are all prewar Gibson, except for the armrest. This banjo hasn't been cut for a tone ring, so play it as is and enjoy a nice sounding lightweight banjo, or use this as an opportunity to put a tone ring in it!
These conversion necks are EXTREMELY rare, if you're looking for a Prewar Gibson that feels like a Nechville Banjo, this might be one to consider!
The pot on this extremely rare banjo was, in all probability, built in 1927, and the neck a decade later. There is no carving on the neck, and the peghead inlay is completely different than on the standard Bella Voce. It is absolutely original, with tube and plate flange and a 40-hole archtop tone ring. We had Richie Dotson build a 5-string neck that matches the original perfectly. It is a really neat instrument and you'll probably never see another like it! Click here for pictures
1928 Gibson TB3 Conversion is excellent condition. FON 9113-43. This banjo plays and sounds exactly like it should! It has the original Gibson 40 hole archtop ring in it currently. If you'd like to inquire about having it converted to a flathead, we carry several conversion rings (archtop to flathead) and would be able to drop one in without doing any cutting to the rim.
The neck was made by Marty Lanham - see photos.
If you're looking for a great sounding Prewar Gibson, this is one to consider!
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