Gibson TB-4 Conversion 1929

Exc Condition / #9482-5
1-7/32″ width at nut

This 1929 Gibson TB-4 Conversion banjo, #9482-5, is a key part of the famous “pre-war” banjo sound heard in historic and modern Bluegrass bands.
Made a year or so before the Flathead tone ring versions, these Archtop (“raised head”), tone ring 3-ply rim banjos were the Gibson sound. This 1929 model 4 has a nickel plated 40-hole archtop tone ring.

Fiddle peghead with Ebony overlay with Bella Voce inlay pattern in peghead. Gibson Script logo inlaid in pearl at top. Truss rod access just above bone nut. Ebony fingerboard with Hearts & Flowers pearl inlay. Schaller nickel tuners all around, including 2 Schaller D-tuners at 2nd and 3rd strings. R.R. spikes at A, Bb, B capo positions. Lightly figured Maple neck with nice narrow profile. White bindings around fingerboard with colorful wooden marquetry strips under the binding along the sides. Ebony heelcap.

White/black/white bindings around top and back of Mahogany resonator. Back of resonator shows two concentric circles of marquetry inset into the back.
The resonator is in fine shape and has extremely faint chalked factory order numbers (serial numbers). It isn’t too odd for them to be omitted, or to be wiped out by cleaning dust.
The 3-ply Maple rim is in excellent shape with no air gaps or glue separations. Original Gibson Label a bit scratched, but intact.

Comes all set-up to play… and with a good Hard Case.

Commanding tone!