View Full Version : Gibson mb-3
mandoguit
Jul-26-2008, 11:34am
Proud owner of 1930's series I306, model MB-3 Gibson mandolin-banjo. Just interested if there are a few more out there still. Am told mine is pretty rare and according to the serial no. it is the second one built in this series. Wondering how many there were total.
Ken Berner
Jul-26-2008, 7:43pm
MB-3s show up on eBay fairly often and seem to go for high prices. I don't watch other auctions, so there may be even more out there on the move.
allenhopkins
Jul-26-2008, 9:56pm
Bernunizio currently has an MB-4 for $1850. Says it's "the best mandolin banjo we've ever had."
Link. (http://www.bernunzio.com/item.php?sku=0812002)
mandoguit
Jul-27-2008, 12:48pm
This is only a test!
mandoguit
Jul-27-2008, 12:53pm
The previous post was to make sure I can upload pictures. Here are a few more. And believe me, I got an appraisal and nothing like this is selling on e-bay.
mandoguit
Jul-27-2008, 12:55pm
Can't seem to do more than one photo per post. Maybe someone could advise.
woodwizard
Jul-27-2008, 12:55pm
Ahhh ... Is that a B@#$o ? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif right ... banjolin
mandoguit
Jul-27-2008, 12:59pm
"Mandolin"-banjo. Worked for Dad since 1936 and does for me too for the past 20 some years. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Yeah, it is also called a banjolin in some parts.
OregonMike
Jul-27-2008, 2:26pm
Bernunizio currently has an MB-4 for $1850. Says it's "the best mandolin banjo we've ever had."
Link. (http://www.bernunzio.com/item.php?sku=0812002)
Wow... That's absolutely gorgeous for that price... almost makes me put one of my mandos on the block and I'm not even a big banjo fan. I love this bound headstock.
mandoguit
Jul-27-2008, 5:07pm
The MB-4 is a great looking instrument and I can't believe the price. However, my MB-3 has a mellow, rich tone not often heard from a mandolin-banjo. I would also like to add that it will never be for sale at any price. In the long distant future it will be passed down to my daughter so she will be able to experience the same pleasures of picking it as myself and my Dad have over the years.
allenhopkins
Jul-27-2008, 8:39pm
Bernunizio currently has an MB-4 for $1850. #Says it's "the best mandolin banjo we've ever had."
Link. (http://www.bernunzio.com/item.php?sku=0812002)
Wow... That's absolutely gorgeous for that price... almost makes me put one of my mandos on the block and I'm not even a big banjo fan. I love this bound headstock.
The MB-4's from the period when Gibson banjos were "snakeheads" -- and actually looked more reptilian than the mandolins ever did!
OregonMike
Jul-27-2008, 11:30pm
You got me real curious about these and there seems to be little information out there. Sell me on why I should have on besides the fact that they look so good - what do you play on yours?
Also check out this Banjo Mandolin I found while searching!!!
Banjo-Mandolin-Guitar-Bass (http://www.gadgettastic.com/2008/04/21/quadruple-neck-guitar/)
I know they are considered by most today as having a specialty rather than primary use and their origins date back to the mandolin/banjo orchestras of the 20 & 30's. What do you enjoy playing on yours and have you worked it into a group setting?
allenhopkins
Jul-29-2008, 11:37am
I know they are considered by most today as having a specialty rather than primary use and their origins date back to the mandolin/banjo orchestras of the 20 & 30's. What do you enjoy playing on yours and have you worked it into a group setting?
MB's probably started in the early years of the 20th century. #There were many many hybrid instruments manufactured in the late 1800's and early 1900's. #I have a "mandoline banjo" (large mandolin body, 5-string banjo neck) made by Pollman and patented in the 1890's. #My Vega Little Wonder MB is from the '20's, my Stewart Collegian banjo-ukulele also of that vintage. #I also have a '20's Gibson GB-3 Mastertone guitar-banjo, which I've converted to a 5-string (still kept the six-string neck, though, in case I ever want to put it back on). #The banjo sound was very popular, often due to the use of the new-fangled tenor or "tango" banjo in a jazz/ragtime context, so there were efforts to get guitar, mandolin and uke players the "benefits" of sounding as loud as a banjo.
I play mostly ragtime, jazzier stuff on the MB -- a little klezmer, the odd up-tempo Celtic tune or two. #I'm in a band (Innisfree) where Mark Deprez does a lot of the lead on his MB, which he built himself. #If you'd like to hear it doing some Celtic tunes, there are a couple MP3's
here (http://www.allenhopkins.org/innisfree.html).
Darryl Wolfe
Jul-29-2008, 11:42am
The Bernunzio one is on hold (probably someone wanting that set of Loar A-5 tuners) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Darryl Wolfe
Jul-29-2008, 11:43am
as depicted
Are you serious....someone would parts that out?
Darryl Wolfe
Jul-29-2008, 2:06pm
Not part it out but certainly rob the tuners and replace with less valuable ones from the same period.
What value word you estimate the tuners to have?
OregonMike
Jul-29-2008, 9:19pm
What do you enjoy playing on yours and have you worked it into a group setting?
Thanks for asking Mace - I mostly play bluegrass and old time fiddle tunes but am a sucker for a vintage instrument like this that I "already" know how to play.
This would probably be a stretch for my repertoire as was the vintage National mando I took on approval once but decided not to keep (too jangly and harsh sounding) - I know, what did I expect...
Glad to see that this is on hold so that I am no longer as tempted! (It would be a sin to strip the tuners off this.)
Question: What is the hinged back for on these? Is that a sound chamber that you can open up or a way to adjust the head?
allenhopkins
Jul-30-2008, 12:17am
Question: What is the hinged back for on these? Is that a sound chamber that you can open up or a way to adjust the head?
That is the Gibson "trap door" resonator, which could be played either open or closed to get different sounds and volume levels from the instrument. There was a small rotating clip that held the "trap door" partially open when wanted, then turned out of the way when the door was closed.
I believe G only built these in the very early '20's, then went to what we would consider the "standard" resonator -- the "dish" that surrounds the back of the banjo and reflects the sound outward -- by 1923 or so.
FYI, Elderly has several Gibson MB including a MB-3 needing work and a couple of MB-2 along with others in their vintage offerings. guitar&banjo.com has some also. It appears that there is a somewhat limited demand based upon availability from reputable dealers.
Darryl Wolfe
Jul-31-2008, 8:54am
What value word you estimate the tuners to have?
What do you think the owner of the one-of-a-kind Loar A-5 would pay if his identical tuners were to give out all of a sudden.
I've only seen a 5 sets of these in my life
DorothyD
Jul-31-2008, 11:35am
Hi,
I have an MB-4 and have been been reading this post with alot of interest. #I have been thinking of selling this but I am now wondering about the tuners. #Can any of you tell me what they are?
Thanks alot!
Dorothy
I haven't posted pictures in awhile....if they don't appear, I'll try again. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
DorothyD
Jul-31-2008, 11:55am
Ok...here's my next try!
Dorothy
A great looking one just showed up on the classifieds.....not the snakehead but looks great otherwise.