Gibson TB-Bella Voce
Bella Voce is Italian for "beautiful voice"; this model was introduced in 1927 and remained in the Gibson line for only three years. One of the most ornate banjos ever produced by Gibson, the Bella Voce was available in white holly, curly maple, rosewood, or burl walnut. This example is white holly, which was actually white painted maple. There is elaborate carving and painting on the back and sides of the resonator as well as on the neck heel and back of the peghead. All hardware is gold plated and heavily engraved; the flange is two-piece and the tone ring is an archtop. The peghead is fiddle-shaped with extensive mother of pearl inlays, and the tailpiece is the Grover "two hump" design engraved with the name "Bella Voce".
Photos courtesy of Greg Boyd's House of Fine Instruments.
