Fantabulous original no hole solid arch top two piece flange RB 4 has just been posted on Greg Earnest's website, out of the state of New Hampshire. Gads! It's clean! Littermate to the Reid Rakes, but is catalog stock all the way, nothing odd about it on the outside, or maybe even the inside.
My question is about the inside of the rim, there's an obvious joint showing in the inner ply of the rim, beneath the tone ring. Serial # was clearly stamped AFTER this joint was made.
Can anyone tell me what that joint is? Why it's there? I'm confident it wasn't one of those rare flat head rims that had to built back up to accept an arch top ring. Is it just cosmetic?http://www.earnestbanjo.com/gibson_banjo_RB-4_mastertone_8914-4.htm
I'm not in any way casting aspersions on this marvelous banjo, just curious.