Comments about Gibson's "Black Jack" banjo from Janet Davis Music, The Banjo Store

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Janet Davis comments about Gibson's "Black Jack" banjo.

The new Gibson "Black Jack" 5-string banjo is really a special banjo and very unique for Gibson. This banjo looks at first sight like an authentic 1930's Gibson Mastertone, and it sounds like one, also. The first time I heard one was when it first arrived and Robby Boone was playing it. I thought it was Robby's original 1930's Style 3 flathead.

This is actually the first model Gibson has offered with Mahogany and Gold plating since the 1930's. It has the RB75 tone ring, which is gold plated over copper, rather than gold plated over nickel, which is now standard for most gold plated banjos. In the 1930's, the gold was plated over copper. The engraving pattern is the Granada pattern, but the parts have been hand rubbed to a satin finish, so that it looks vintage right from the start. The mahogany neck is rounded to a slight V shape which is designed to comfortably fit in your left hand between your thumb and index finger. The neck is of the standard thickness of all Gibson necks, which is very playable for hands of any size. The rosewood fingerboard has an obscure Gibson inlay pattern from the 1920's which Greg Rich discovered in the late 1980's in Gibson's archives. This is the only model Gibson offers with this inlay pattern.

The sound is my favorite part of playing this banjo, although the playing action feels great, too. It is open and warm, with a full bass response and a beautiful mahogany ring up the neck. And it is powerful, especially for a mahogany banjo. You can feel this banjo vibrate from way deep inside when you pick it.

So, yes, I really like this banjo. JD Crowe has made it his personal model with Gibson, along with his other model, which is a nickel plated RB-75 reissue of the 1937 Gibson RB75 model, and his signature is on the truss rod cover, also!

Janet

Janet, received the Blackjack on Friday afternoon and played a gig with it on Saturday. It exceeded my expectations in every way. The set up was great and I played it with no changes. The tone quality, volume and playability of the banjo are absolutely wonderful. The guys in my band really like it and my 1933 style 3 doesn't sound as good in my humble opinion. Thank you for your personal reference on this particular banjo as I know even these great banjos vary some from the factory. I love it!! Marte M

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