Gibson TB-75 #FG-2662

1937 was a year of great change in Gibson's banjo line.  Mastertone models 4, 6, Granada, Florentine, and All American were discontinued and replaced with the new top tension styles 7, 12, and 18.   Of the previous Mastertone models, only style 3 survived; its price was lowered from $100 to $75 and, in keeping with Gibson's new fashion for naming instruments after their prices, was renamed style 75.

By the time style 75 entered the Gibson catalogue, banjo production had declined dramatically and variations in inlay patterns became so common that it can fairly be said that there was not one standard style 75 pattern.  This banjo features a variation of the leaves and bows pattern on the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, while the double-cut peghead is inlaid with a simple diamonds and squares pattern that had been standard on the style 3 of the 1920s.  Otherwise this banjo conforms to standard catalog specifications for style 75, with mahogany neck and resonator with two inlaid rings of white/black/white purfling, single white binding on the neck and resonator, a one-piece flange, Presto tailpiece, forty-hole archtop tone ring, and nickel plating.  The tuners are the original Klusons with amber keystone-shaped buttons, and the banjo is housed in its original red-line hardshell case.  As was standard practice by the late 1930s, the serial number includes a letter prefix and is stamped on the back of the peghead. 

Photos courtesy of Gary Gregory.


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