1965 Epiphone EB-88 5 string flathead. Also called the “Minstrel” model. 100% original. These are pretty rare birds. There may have been some for sale here on the Hangout, but I can’t ever remember seeing one.
These were made by Gibson in Kalamazoo side by side with the Gibson’s. Some people describe the Minstrel as an RB100 with a tone ring.
Like “Gibson’s” in the mid to late 60’s, this one came with the thin multiply rim. It has a factory “Tone-Bell” chamfer cut that you can also find on some Gibsons of the same vintage.
This rim comes w/the banjo but I had always kept a Gibbie thin rim that came from a ’65 Bowtie because it sounded so good despite every reason not to. It is heavier and just seems more solid than the Epi rim. My instincts were good, the banjo’s original Falkner ring has a perfect snug fit on it and sounds great.
There is a repaired heel crack that’s not the best cosmetically, but not the worst either.
The neck is flat with no relief and the truss rod is fully loosened. Despite this, it plays well with good action.
There is one 5th string spike that has been nailed in too far, but with the right set of “tweezers” you should be able to get it out.
The Keith tuners are not included, I will put the original ones back on.
The original (crappy) tail piece is included as is the Prucha 2-hump that’s on there now.
Comes with a cool yellow lined Lifton case.
This is a funny little banjo. It’s such a “Plain Jane”, but when you pick it up and start playing it’s kind of startling. It has such a deep rich tone. It’s just hard to put the two together. You find yourself picking it up over and over again thinking you must have been wrong. But you weren't.
I’ve had 50’s and 60’s 3 ply RB100’s cut for flathead rings. None of them sounded this good.
I know people who like Falkner rings so much, they’ll buy a banjo just to get one. I suppose I should have just kept this one too, but it’s in there.
$1749 plus shipping/insurance.
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