'60's Gibson RB-250 Mastertone Banjo

Here's a genuine late-1960s Gibson RB-250 Mastertone (Serial Number: 845761) — a real working bluegrass banjo with the honest wear of a long, well-loved playing life, not a wall-hanger.

This one has clearly been out on the porch, at the jam, and on the stage. The finish shows classic lacquer spidering/checking across the neck and resonator, along with general handling wear consistent with decades of active use. There's some pitting on the metal hardware, but everything is fully functional — tuners turn smoothly, the resonator flange and tone ring are solid, and there's no separation or lifting anywhere. Structurally, this banjo is in great shape: no wood cracks, no neck warp, truss rod works as it should, and the neck angle/action is right where a serious player wants it.

Setup and playability are excellent. The frets have plenty of life left, the fingerboard is clean, and it has that punchy, ringing Mastertone tone with the classic Gibson "snap" bluegrass players chase. This is a banjo that's ready to be played hard, not babied.

Player-friendly upgrades included:

• Extra headstock detuner(s) installed for quick re-tuning drop-D/modal work mid-song — a favorite mod among working bluegrass pickers
• Schubb adjustable capo mounted on the high (1st) string, allowing fast partial-capo tricks without breaking stride

Condition summary:

• Finish: Honest player wear, lacquer spidering/checking throughout, some pitting on metal parts — cosmetic only
• Wood: No cracks, no warping, neck straight and stable
• Hardware/tuners: All original-type hardware in good working order, additional D-Tuners and Adjustable Capo
• Playability: Sets up and plays great, ready for the stage or jam circle right out of the case
• Serial Number: 845761 (visible on peghead)

This is a great opportunity to own a real vintage Gibson Mastertone at a fraction of "mint" pricing — the tone and construction are all there, it just looks (and sounds) like it's lived a full life. Perfect for the player who wants a genuine 1960s Gibson tone machine they don't have to worry about babying.