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Thread: Gibson trapdoor

  1. #26
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    I have owned a 1923 Gibson TB-3 and an earlier TB-4 but I had never heard of a TB-5 until now....

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/156738#156738

    Holy mother of toilet seat Batman!

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  2. #27
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    I met and hung out with John Pearse a few times in the 1980s (yes that guy whose name is on the strings etc.) he was a phenomenal guitarist and I heard him play some hot ragtime tunes on his GB-5 trapdoor guitar banjo. Lots of glitz.
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  4. #28
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Well I've got a 1923 MB-5! All silver plated, Loar engraved pearl button tuners ,and the silver tailpiece cover with "The Gibson" engraved on the bottom just like the Loar F-5's! I had it posted awhile back and may try to sell again? I don't know its very nice!

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  6. #29
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    William, any way you can post a photo? I would love to see it.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  7. #30
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Sure here are some.Click image for larger version. 

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    Some say its an MB-4 but David Harvey said its for sure an MB-5 and David knows his stuff! Its all silver plated, Loar tuners and Loar tailpiece engraving! Also original case, MB-4's are bigger bodied, this is 9 inches!

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  9. #31
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Wow, very cool! Finding a tailpiece cover for a regular trap door is almost impossible, you might own the only known one of those.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  10. #32
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Wow, very cool! Finding a tailpiece cover for a regular trap door is almost impossible, you might own the only known one of those.
    Yes and its about the same engraving as the Loar F-5 tailpiece covers! David Harvey never seen one like it! Another strange thing the inside where the Gibson label is its worn strangely! David H. said that back in the day guys put lights in their banjos and such so it would show up on stage while in their tux! Pretty neat if it could tell stories huh

  11. #33
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Quote Originally Posted by William Smith View Post
    Yes and its about the same engraving as the Loar F-5 tailpiece covers! David Harvey never seen one like it! Another strange thing the inside where the Gibson label is its worn strangely! David H. said that back in the day guys put lights in their banjos and such so it would show up on stage while in their tux! Pretty neat if it could tell stories huh
    Actually the banjo lights were not for stage use but were used to dry out the skin heads they used back then. They didn’t have plastic heads in the twenties. I have seen the armatures which would clamp on the dowel stick. They would usually use Christmas tree lights. I doubt some of these vaudeville performers would want to be plugged in back then.
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  13. #34
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Wow, very cool! Finding a tailpiece cover for a regular trap door is almost impossible, you might own the only known one of those.
    My trapdoor has a nice engraved "The Gibson" tailpiece cover. It is engraved on the top, not the end, like William's. Has some fleur de lis also.
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  14. #35
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    This TB-5 has the same tailpiece cover as Williams...

    https://www.sylvanmusic.com/store/p2...nor_Banjo.html

    Bottom photo.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  16. #36
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Actually the banjo lights were not for stage use but were used to dry out the skin heads they used back then. They didn’t have plastic heads in the twenties. I have seen the armatures which would clamp on the dowel stick. They would usually use Christmas tree lights. I doubt some of these vaudeville performers would want to be plugged in back then.
    Mike, I think you're generally right, but I'm pretty sure some of the banjoists "lit up" their instruments during performances. My long-time musical partner Bob bought a '20's Gibson Grenada tenor "pot" to convert to a five-string, and glued to the inside of the head was a thin black-carboard silhouette of a fully-rigged ship. It was only visible when lit from behind. So evidence suggests that the incandescent bulb(s) not only kept the skin head tight, but provided a visual accent during performances.

    It would have been cool if a sound-activated switch could have been installed, so that the light flashed in synch with strumming! Whatever the electrical set-up was, it was taken out of the Grenada shell before Bob bought it, so we don't know.
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  18. #37
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    This TB-5 has the same tailpiece cover as Williams...

    https://www.sylvanmusic.com/store/p2...nor_Banjo.html

    Bottom photo.
    That Banjo is SICK! Pretty darn good deal at 2G, I've seen the same tailpiece on a few of those and some of the 24 5 strings with the trap door.

  19. #38
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Here is a shot of my tailpiece,

    This is not working for some reason.
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    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  20. #39
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    Here is a shot of my tailpiece.


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    They really gilded the lily on that one!
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  21. #40
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Thanks pheff not sure why I can't find it, The number in the photo's is not the one that came up. Can't seem to change it so good for a laugh.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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  23. #41
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Actually the banjo lights were not for stage use but were used to dry out the skin heads they used back then. They didn’t have plastic heads in the twenties. I have seen the armatures which would clamp on the dowel stick. They would usually use Christmas tree lights. I doubt some of these vaudeville performers would want to be plugged in back then.
    A friend of mine had a Vegaphone Professional tenor banjo with the Elton lights in it. Here's a photo. Yes, it is possible that some folks did use them on stage but with the electrical systems in those days it would have been pretty scary, I would think. My friend with the Vegaphone said he was afraid to plug it in but it did work.

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    Jim

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  25. #42
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson trapdoor

    Then, there is this....





    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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