In 1937, Gibson completely overhauled its Mastertone line. The top-tension styles 7, 12, and 18 were introduced, style 3 was renamed style 75 with its price lowered from $100 to $75, and all other Mastertone styles were discontinued. This banjo is from the last known batch of prewar Granadas. In most respects it conforms to standard catalog specifications for a thirties Granada tenor with curly maple neck, curly maple resonator with sunburst finish, a one-piece flange, gold plating on all hardware and engraving on the tension hoop and armrest, a double-cut peghead, multi-ply black and white binding on neck and resonator, and a clamshell tailpiece. The flying eagle inlay pattern on the peghead is standard for the model, but the fingerboard of this example is inlaid with the hearts and flowers pattern, a combination not seen on any other known Granada from lot #1485. Also unusual is the lack of a Mastertone block on the tenor neck. This banjo originally had a forty-hole archtop tone ring but the rim has been cut and a Burlile flathead tone ring installed. The five-string conversion neck is by Frank Neat.
