1924 Gibson MB-3 Trap Door Banjo-Mandolin

Overview: I worked on this little champ a couple years ago and it came back to the shop just as it left -- playing quick and easy and ready for service. It's got that classic, "horse clop" banjo-mandolin sound and decent cut and volume as well. The only reason it's here is that the owner upgraded to a slightly-fancier, similar-year MB-4 with a trap door resonator. His loss!

Interesting features: It has the great-looking "squiggly" headstock shape, ball-bearing/vented hollow tonering design. It also has, of course, the adjustable trap door resonator. The fretboard is ebony, the neck is maple, and the rim is ply maple. I love the bracket band design on these, too -- so understated and so functional. This also has a dual-coordinator-rod setup so action adjustments are easy-peasy.

Repairs included: Previously, I'd given it a level/dress of the frets, fit a replacement bridge, and set it up. this time around I didn't need to do anything aside from tune it up and hang it on the wall. Yip! Ready to go...

• Weight: 4 lbs 13 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 5/64"
• Neck shape: medium C/V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 55/65"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1 1/32"
• Head diameter: 9"
• Depth overall at rim: 3"
• Rim wood: ply maple
• Tonering: vented round tube
• Bridge: maple compensated
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32w-9 ultra lights
• Truss rod: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: small/narrow

Condition notes: It's mostly-original, though the tailpiece cover is missing and I replaced a bad old bridge with a compensated, vintage mandolin-style one from my parts-bins. It has some usewear throughout but it's light except for a bunch of scratches on the resonator's rear (buckle rash?) that give it some character.

It comes with: It's got a gigbag.

Consignor tag: MBUO