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Roy Lee could "out-Carter" Carter.

Hard to believe that Ricky is the only one on that stage who's still alive.

RIP, Tony.

The greatest guitarist in bluegrass, and one of the greatest acoustic guitarists of all time.

Tony "changed the music".
Before him, nobody played the way he did.
After him, nearly...

Take the money you would have spent on a mid-70's Gibson and buy a Northfield.
It will look and sound better.

RIP Bill Jr.
Thanks for posting.
I saved pictures and discography.

sblock has it right, above.

If you want to protect the finish, use a pickguard/finger rest.

They can be mounted in such a way (set below the string level) so that they won't interfere with your...

Gibson did make an "M-6" for a while, that's the first one I ever saw "in blue"...

Fast Fret.
Before and AFTER you play it.

If this drags on into next year, it's going to seriously damage the bluegrass festival "industry", to the point where many festival promoters may throw in the towel for good.

Might have a similar...

Bluegrass is played on a 5-string banjo, usually with a resonator.
Irish/Celtic is generally played on a 4-string tenor banjo.

Two completely different types of music.
Two completely different...

My predic-a-shuns:

Within 10 years, we'll see signed Loars with asking prices under $100k.
Within 20 years, those asking prices will drop to under $75k.
Perhaps 'way under....

Triflow, if they need it.

Don't forget "Man of Constant Sorrow", the Ralph Stanley biography by Eddie Dean...

allenhopkins asks:
"does Gibson even make banjos any more, or put their name on instruments made for them by others?"

No banjos since 2009. Production was essentially ended and banjo-area...

I believe the nut width on a Gibson Goldrush -- although not fully 1 1/8" -- is slightly wider than 1 1/16".

Perhaps 1 3/32" ??

A good move for them, I think.

I can remember when Mr. Vance moved from Ohio (I think?) to Arizona. At the time, I thought, "why move a bluegrass-oriented store to Arizona?" I realize the net has...

I'd just leave 'em alone and learn to live with it.

Try foolin' with them, and you could end up with things worse than when you started...

I'd suggest this:
https://www.amazon.com/UR22-MKII-RP-Headphones-Microphone/dp/B01MSN3RUP

Will work with PC or Mac.
Nice Steinberg USB interface.
You'll want the closed-ear phones for...

I'd string that up and make it playable, and... just leave it at that.

A remembrance of your friend.

But I wouldn't put any money into it.

The problem:
"Showed up to a gig with a local singer/songwriter only to find out he tunes down a half-step"

The solution:
Tune down right along with him!

Standard nut width on the F-5g is 1 1/16".

There was a special run of them made in the pre-flood days with a wide fingerboard like the Sam Bush model (these are easily recognizable with the block...

OP:

You didn't tell us what make of 5-string you have, but if it's a "Gibson Mastertone style" (either 1 piece flange or 2 piece flange), there are probably hundreds of tenor necks out there that...

That sounds both mature and well balanced for being only 2 years old.
Very "traditional" tone.
Playin's not bad, either...! ;)

If you want a James tailpiece, then be ready to accept the matte finish "for what it is".

I sense that trying to "polish it up" might make a mess out of things...

"The serial number is 80107029"

January 7, 1998, 2nd instrument completed that day.

With "non-Loar" Loar selling prices in the $150k+/- range lately, $250k seems like a pretty steep premium, even with the provenance involved.

Will it really sound $100k better...? ;)