Vintage Gibson Banjolin

[soliver]

Was strolling through an antique shop this afternoon and saw a vintage Gibson Banjolin in their case. It is in need of some love in order to be playable but it was still cool to see. I inquired about price and they said $1200... my response was "ok thanks" and walked away. For its condition, that seemed steep. Take a look and tell me what you think. Not really all that interested in buying it, but I AM curious.

[MikeEdgerton]

Considering you can buy a similar or earlier Gibson mandolin (if you look for it) for less, I don't find it all that attractive. The pot might have some value to a banjo collector for a conversion but it's not even in that category as far as I can see.

But.... If you like it buy it.

[soliver]

I'm really not interested more curious if others saw it as worth the price they had on it. I was thinking the same about how a regular vintage Gibby in playable condition can be had for less.

[allenhopkins]

Looks like an early '20's MB-4 to me, like this one, which can be yours for $400 less, with a full restoration, new head and new compensated bridge.

Tell ya which one I'd buy, were I in the market...

IMHO both are afflicted with "Gibsonitis," by which I mean that "Gibson" on the peghead leads to a severe overpricing fever. There are scads of mandolin-banjos around, by a variety of makers, mostly from the period 1900-Depression or so. You could pick up a comparable Bacon, Vega etc. for much less; a "trade" instrument might set you back $100-150 at most.

Antique dealers, pawn shops, others who aren't regularly in the vintage instruments market, still know the name "Gibson." This will still be true after Henry J takes the company down the plug-hole.

[soliver]

I'm starting to see the way the people who run that shop operate; I also saw in the store while I was there something they had bought from a friend of mine for $75 with a $475 price tag on it. ... people must pay?!?!

[MikeEdgerton]

You only need to sell a few items with a markup like that. That and people need to keep their antique stores full. There is a banjo in an antique store in Annapolis, MD that I laugh at every time I see it. It's marked at a price that is at least 5 times the value and it's been there for years.

[soliver]

You only need to sell a few items with a markup like that. That and people need to keep their antique stores full. There is a banjo in an antique store in Annapolis, MD that I laugh at every time I see it. It's marked at a price that is at least 5 times the value and it's been there for years.

Well... it IS a banjo

[rcc56]

IMHO both are afflicted with "Gibsonitis," by which I mean that "Gibson" on the peghead leads to a severe overpricing fever.
Antique dealers, pawn shops, others who aren't regularly in the vintage instruments market, still know the name "Gibson." This will still be true after Henry J takes the company down the plug-hole.

I'm sorry Allen, that is an incorrect application of the term "Gibsonitis." "Gibsonitis" is a repair person's term for multiple loose braces and open seams, which are especially common on Gibson instruments from the 40's and 50's. Seems like they had a foreman whose life mission was to keep glue costs down. Anyway, we have been using the term "Gibsonitis" in this context for close to 20 years.

Perhaps "Gib-flation" would be a better term for overpriced out-of-fashion or budget model Gibson instruments.

Speaking of "Gib-flation," how 'bout some of the prices on "toneless wonder" 70's acoustics with summer camp arts-and-crafts class finishes and braces showing through the top? And people buy them anyway . . .

As far as $1200 for a neglected MB-4, they won't get it from me. In a moment of foolishness, I might give $600 or $800 for a really nice one with a moccasin peghead and trap door resonator, but then I'd wonder if I needed to see a doctor . . .