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Pre War Gibson Conversion Banjos for Sale

1929 Gibson Style 1 Conversion

1930s Gibson Style 11 - Dick Smith

1930s Gibson Style 11 - Dick Smith

1929 Gibson Style 1 Banjo – Prewar Tone with First-Generation One-Piece Flange FON 9542-23

This 1929 Gibson Style 1 banjo retains all of its original hardware, including the highly sought-after first-generation one-piece flange—a key feature for collectors and players alike. Remarkably, the flange is in excellent condition, a rarity for instruments of this era.

The banjo features a beautifully crafted mahogany Sullivan neck with the correct inlay pattern for this model, offering both period accuracy and modern playability. It's been outfitted with a new Huber HR-30 Tone Ring and a Cockrum bridge, and it has just received a fresh professional setup. The result? That unmistakable Prewar Gibson Flathead Mastertone sound—powerful, rich, and responsive.

The resonator shows honest playwear with some scuffs and scratches, adding character and vintage mojo to this nearly 100-year-old instrument. 

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1930s Gibson Style 11 - Dick Smith

1930s Gibson Style 11 - Dick Smith

1930s Gibson Style 11 - Dick Smith

Here's your chance to own a really cool Pre War Gibson Banjo once owned by legendary bluegrass musician, Dick Smith. This banjo features a modern Gibson USA 20 hole flathead tone ring. Fresh setup with Cockrum Bog Oak Bridge and Turtle Hill Remo Frosted banjo head. Plays and sounds exactly as it should! 




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1930s Gibson Style 11

1930s Gibson Style 11 - Dick Smith

1930s Gibson Style KK-10

1930s Pre War Gibson Style 11 Banjo; Uncut, with no Tone Ring! This banjo is setup nicely and is super lightweight. It was originally sent to South Africa from the Gibson Factory in the 1930s (see photos of import / export labels inside resonator) and is back in the USA and ready to play some bluegrass! Clancy Mullins made the beautiful neck. Schaeller D - tuners.


Here's your chance to own a cool piece of Gibson Banjo history!




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1930s Gibson Style KK-10

1930 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion

1930s Gibson Style KK-10

1930s Gibson (Kel Kroydon) Style 10 with a Modern Gibson 5 String Earl Scruggs, Hearts and Flowers Neck! We're told this Gibson Neck was installed by the factory in the early 2000s and specifically made for this banjo. Note the perfect color match on the back of the neck to the sidewalls of the resonator. It has a modern Gibson 20 hole flathead tone ring, and all of the other original Pre war Gibson metal parts including the original 'window pane' tailpiece. Recent setup - sounds and plays exactly as it should with a nice Scorpion bridge!


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1930s Gibson Style TB00 Conversion

1930 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion

1930 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion

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!


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1930 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion

1930 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion

1930 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion

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.


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1926 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion - Nechville Neck

1926 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion - Nechville Neck

1926 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion - Nechville Neck

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!


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1927-late 1930s Pre War Gibson Bella Voce

1926 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion - Nechville Neck

1926 Pre War Gibson TB-2 Conversion - Nechville Neck

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

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