1970s Liberty Openback 5-String Banjo

This appears to be an early-ish (late '60s/early '70s) Liberty Banjo Co. openback 5-string banjo. It's a nice-quality instrument that was down on its luck and Tim set it to rights for its local owner. It's a simple design with a hoop tonering, multi-ply maple rim, mahogany neck with bolt-attachment to the rim, and a quick feel. Post-repairs it has a good, clean, chimey sound and plenty of volume.

Tim replaced the binding at the side of the neck (the old stuff was in tatters), gave it a level/dress of the frets, fit a new bridge with compensation, and set it up to play spot-on with 1/16" action at the 12th fret (nice and low).

Most Liberty banjos are highly-ornate and filled to the brim with fancy binding. This one is on the simple side and I appreciate that -- it's no-frills and all business and, in its way, like a hybrid of a simple Vega 5-string banjo with the neck feel of a Gibson RB of some sort. It's a nice matchup!