1997 Gibson RB 4 Walnut Five-String Resonator Banjo

This 1997 Gibson RB-4 Walnut Five-String Resonator Banjo has all the stunning features of the RB-4 model and stands out compared to banjos made of other woods. It has a full, rich tone and cutting power.

This Gibson RB-4 features walnut wood with a figured walnut resonator, including attractive concentric wood marquetry rings on the back (see photos). The metal is clean and shiny, and the neck is straight-grained walnut with a rosewood fingerboard and a Flying Eagle inlay.

Overall, this RB-4 is in excellent condition. It has a factory-original Kulesh tone ring and a new Steve Huber bridge and head. As a bonus, this Style 4 was set up at the Huber Banjo factory in Nashville, Tennessee.

Condition: The frets have very little wear and are in excellent condition; the minor wear is most noticeable on the first three frets (see photos). The resonator is in good condition, with minor scratching. It includes the original case.

Bottom line: We’ve sold over 1,500 banjos in the past ten years, and it’s rare to come across a Gibson RB 4. This is your chance to own a rare, great-sounding Gibson.

Every Banjo we sell receives a professional setup in our shop. This Gibson RB 250 has a Remo frosted head set to 90. It has the correct intonation, and it sounds excellent. This banjo is a phenomenal player. It’s fully adjustable with a truss rod and dual coordinator rods.

As the quality standard, Gibson banjos were played historically by nearly all the top players, including Earl Scruggs, JD Crowe, Ralph Stanley, Sonny Osborne, Bill Emerson, and many others. Recent top banjoists who play Gibson banjos include Bela Fleck, Noam Pikelney, Jim Mills, Bill Evans, and Kristin Scott Benson.

The Banjo Warehouse stocks a wide range of Gibson banjos, including pre-war, vintage, and relatively recent styles through the very last of the Gibson banjos produced in 2009. Remember that we nearly always have several Gibson banjos in stock that haven’t yet made it to our website listings. 

Call Geoff for an in-hand description (or to talk about banjos): 404-218-8580
Email: [email protected]
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Call Geoff to schedule an appointment to visit our Atlanta, GA, or Yellow Springs, O.H. locations.