This is the last of the banjos that I've been trying to get ready for the Joe Val Festival. It is a 1930s Gibson TB11 that I have done a reproduction neck for. It does come with both necks. Instead of the MOT fingerboard, I use the correct 11 pattern inlays in Brazilian rosewood. It really looks and plays very nice, profiled to a 1937 RB1 profile. The pot is all original and in excellent shape. I did have to repair a slight delamination on the outer 1/16" lamination under the flange so I did refinish the outside of the rim. All of the hardware is in great shape especially for this old of a banjo. The tailpiece is a new presto.
The tone ring: There are many great new tone rings out there. Many of you know that I like and use the no-hole Dannick in many of my conversions. There are also a lot of great older tone rings like the Kulesh Sr., Faulkner, old Ryans and others that I love to pick up when I get a chance, and build a banjo around them. That's the story on this one.
Jimmy Cox, more than any other single person, has produced more parts for the banjo industry over the years than anyone else. While his current tone rings and banjo are right up there with some of the best available, his older tone rings, made before 1975, were cast in a different foundry, and are thought by many in these parts to be among the best there are. Jimmy has a list of people who want to buy his older banjos and any time Jimmy can find one, he has a ready buyer for it. I bought this pre-1975 Cox tone ring from a fellow many of you know, Dave Hedrick (davepicks5), who was selling out the banjos stuff from the estate of a good friend of mine. Some of you may have also known the late Jim Cornell of Ft. Wayne, IN. Jim was my first banjo teacher back in 1976. Let me tell you that the combination of that old Cox tone ring on this pre-war 11 rim and a mahogany neck came out very well indeed. So well that I really don't care if it sells or not. If anyone wants it, they are going to have to pay the price, satisfaction guaranteed of course. For those going to JV, stop by and play this banjo...Bill
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For Sale: Gibson 1930s TB/RB11
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