Gibson TB Granada conversion (1928)

Conversion of TB Granada to the five-string banjo. Serial #9195-30 is painted in brown color inside the resonator and also stamped on the rim together with the „PAT. APPLD. FOR“ sign, which is standard for 1928.

The banjo generally conforms to standard specifications of the Granada Model of that period, wood is curly maple with dark natural finish, metal parts are gold plated, the armrest and tension hoop are engraved with Granada pattern, the time correct Grover two hump tailpiece is engraved with the „Maybell“ logo and obviously comes from the Slingerland May Bell banjo. The instrument has standard three-ply maple rim which has been cut and fitted with early gold plated Huber flathead tonering.

Pot assemply features the 2 – piece flange construction with 24 brackets and notched tension hoop, dual gold plated coordinator rods with correct nuts and washers, L-brackets and thumb screws. Three hooks seem to be exchanged by the aftermarket ones. The resontor is double bound featuring concentric rings of checkerboard purfling on back. Someone has drilled a hole in the resonator wall which must have served for the pick-up jack pin. We have decided not to repair it. Two piece armrest was repaired with two rivets at some point.

The matching conversion five-string neck was made by Jaroslav Prucha, it features beautiful flame maple, rosewood fretboard, fiddle-cut peghead, white and checkerboard binding. Tuning pegs are gold plated Krishot copies of the traditional Pencake tuners, 2 Keith/Scruggs gold tuners. Hearts & Flowers inlay with missing inlay on the 15th fret.

The instrument has been set up by Mr. Prucha who re-fitted the rim and tonering.

In 1928, Gibson Granada was a relatively fancy model bearing the $200 price tag, double then Style 3 Mastertone at that time. More costly were only Style 6, Bella Voce and Florentine.