Pre War Gibson Conversion Banjos for Sale

New mahogany 5-string neck by Richie Dotson with Hearts & Flowers inlay. Ball bearing tone ring. The pot still has the skin head. The resonator has a very dark, almost black, stain and appears to be original, but I can't be sure. One of the resonator wall lugs is missing. Original Presto tailpiece and new Gotoh tuners. A good banjo at a good price! Click here for pictures

Ball bearing tone ring. Nice 5-string neck by the late Robin Smith, with Flying Eagle inlay and rosewood fingerboard. New Presto tailpiece. The resonator has the expected scratches, etc. The banjo still has the original skin head, and it has a really great tone. Click here for pictures

The post is 100% original, and it has a new 5-string neck by  Richie Dotson, who did a fantastic job building it. It has the cleanest metal parts you'll ever see on one of these banjos. The walnut resonator is exceptionally clean, with just a little scuffing in the center. Click here for pictures

with ball bearing tone ring. We had a new 5-string neck made, and the resonator was refinished to match. The pot is 100% original except for the tailpiece, which is a new Presto. One of the resonator screws is missing. It still has the original skin head. Click here for pictures

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

FON 8886. The previous owner installed a Mitch Meador conversion ring on top of the original 40-hole archtop ring. It can be easily removed if the buyer so desires. It has a decent 5-string neck of unknown make, with the original tuning pegs and pearl knobs. There is just a little fret wear, mostly at the 2nd fret.  Worn gold plated parts. New coordinator rods, and one missing resonator thumb screw. A really nice sounding banjo! Click here for pictures

New mahogany 5-string neck by Richie Dotson. No-hole archtop tone ring. The pot in very nice condition and is 100% original, including the tuners and Presto tailpiece, except for the armrest which is newer. This is a really nice prewar banjo. Click here for pictures

This banjo has the powerful, dry and surprisingly deep and dark (almost pre war flathead like) pre war no-hole archtop tone ring. New 5-string neck with Hearts & Flowers inlay by Richie Dotson. The pot is 100% original. There are numerous scratches on the resonator. This  is a really good sounding banjo. Click here for pictures

This was Steve Sparkman's banjo, which I acquired in trade for his "dream" banjo, a 1927 style 5 no-hole. The banjo was started by Gibson in 1925, as the peghead inlay indicates. In 1928 they finished it, in the process changing the tone ring from ball bearing to 40-hole archtop. Steve had Frank Neat build a really nice 5-string neck. The pot is all original; gold plating is nice, although the armrest has a repair. Click here for pictures

40-hole archtop tone ring. This banjo is exceptionally nice in all respects. I assume it was a custom order, since it has a honey maple finish instead of the usual Argentine gray. I've never owned one of these with nicer gold plating. The new 5-string neck was made by Richie Dotson. Click here for pictures

One piece flange. Very nice condition and 100% original. The flange is solid and not badly warped. It is pictured as a tenor, and it is available this way or with a new Florentine Special inlay neck built by Wyatt Fawley. Call for details if interested. Click here for pictures

40-hole archtop tone ring. We had Richie Dotson make a new 5-string neck with the Reno inlay pattern. The pot is 100% original, although the top cover is missing from the Presto tailpiece.The resonator has seen a LOT of hard use and has numerous worn spots, etc. It could be refinished, but most people prefer not to do so. This is a very strong banjo! Click here for pictures

The conversion neck was made by Richie Dotson.  This banjo has chrome plated metal parts, beautiful curly maple wood, fancy multi-color binding, and the original 40-hole archtop tone ring. This is a very rare Gibson; the wood and inlay resemble the style 6 Gibson.Very nice condition, and a wonderful sounding banjo. Click here for pictures

The pot is all original except for the tailpiece. The flange is pulled up a little, but is better than most; it is very solid. Richie Dotson made a new 5-string neck with Flying Eagle inlay, and installed one of his new Dotson 75 flathead tone rings. A great sounding and very powerful banjo! Click here for pictures

with new wreath inlay 5-string neck by Richie Dotson. The rim is uncut and still has the original hoop tone ring. The pot is all original except for the tailpiece; it even has the original Rogers skin head. The flange is pulled up as usual, but is solid. It has great tone, and of course Richie did a great job with the neck.  Click here for pictures

The pot is all original except for the tailpiece. The flange is pulled up as usual, but is very solid. Richie Dotson made a new 5-string neck with Reno inlay, and installed one of his new Dotson 75 flathead tone rings. This is an excellent banjo in all respects. In my opinion, TB-11 and KK conversions are absolutely the best bargains in bluegrass banjos.  Click here for pictures

With one piece flange. Very nice condition. The resonator has been refinished and it looks "right." The flange is very solid, with no problems. We have a great 5-string neck for it, made by Wyatt Fawley. Call for details if interested (1472).  Click here for pictures

This is undoubtedly the rarest prewar Gibson archtop banjo in existence! From the front it looks like a regular Florentine, with the ice cream cone peghead and scenes of Italy on the fingerboard, but the resonator and neck carvings are completely different than on any other banjo. It also has one piece flange construction, which is found on only a few Florentines.  Click here for pictures

with 40-hole archtop ring. I've dealt in prewar Gibsons for thirty years and this is by far the cleanest one of its type I've ever had or seen. The metal is about as bright as it would be on a new banjo and the wood is great. I just put a new Wyatt Fawley neck on it, and it is available that way or as a tenor. Notice the rare Bella Voce inlay on the tenor neck.   Click here for pictures