I have a question. I'm currently having my 70's Asian import banjo being worked on at a local luthier. The owner of the shop had an "60's era" black Gibson Mastertone rim that he wants to give me to upgrade my banjo. The label is a Mastertone label from Kalamazoo MI. The owner told me that it was a 3 ply but it looks more like a multi- ply. From what I found on BH, the black rims were only multi- ply (Plywood) rims. Also the research I found says the rim is pre 1969 when Gibson went to Nashville and used the Nashville labels I asked about the black rim and he insists it a 3 ply. My questions are did Gibson make a black 3 ply rim? Where only the RB 250's a "Mastertone" or were any other banjos (RB 100-150) Mastertones as well? The rim had been fitted with a tone ring, so I'm assuming it was a RB-250.
My luthier is a stand-up guy and I don't feel he trying to steer me wrong. My banjo originally has a multi-ply rim so it cant hurt anything swaping them out. And at least now I can put on a brass tone ring. The old rim/ tone ring was a mess. The rim was not fitted and the ring is oversized and just sat on top very loosely.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Scott