12″ Gibson Kraske Rim TB-4 Conversion
The Victor Kraske design and patent led Gibson to create the very unique hollow rim design for the first banjos they ever produced starting in 1918. The hollow 12″ rim design gives these banjos a very unique tone and timbre that you won’t find in a traditional solid rim construction. More information about these early Gibson banjos as well as some history of Victor Kraske can be found here. As no original five string versions of these banjos were ever known to be produced by Gibson they are only heard as such with conversions to five string necks. This rim is a beautiful all original example of Gibson’s craftsmanship at the time.
- 12″ Kraske Style Hollow Gibson TB Rim
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- Waverly Tuners
- Maple Neck
- Hand Rubbed Sunburst Nitrocellulose Finish
- Richlite Fingerboard and Appointments
- Ivoroid Binding
- Mother of Pearl Gibson Reproduction Inlays
- Custom Dog Inlay in Heelcap
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Published in Banjos
14″ Gibson GB-4 Kraske Rim Banjo
This banjo started out as a monster 14″ guitar banjo. The banjo features the Kraske hollow rim that Gibson used for it’s first banjos. I’ve converted a number of these banjos over the years, this was was definitely the most interesting and largest of them. The rim has somewhat of an archtop design so the vibrating surface of the head is closer to 13″ but the hollow rim makes for a very unique tone with haunting overtones. It turned out to have a surprisingly focused tone for such a large rim and made for a very cool and unique banjo.
- 26.4″ Scale Length
- 14″ Hollow Kraske Style Gibson Rim
- Original Gibson TB neck design
- Rickard Cyclone Tuners
- Gibson Style Hand Rubbed Sunburst Finish
- Nitrocellulose Finish
- Ivoroid Binding
- Richlite Fingerboard and Accents
- Flush Mount Truss Rod Cover
- Published in Banjos