1927 Custom Florentine Plectrum
In 1927, the year of Babe Ruth's 60 home runs and Charles Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic, Gibson made its own mark with three fancy new banjos -- the Bella Voce, Florentine and Style 6. This unusual plectrum model combines features of the Florentine and Bella Voce.Most of the elements are standard Florentine, including the carving on the resonator, the multi-colored sparkle trim, and the white holly neck and resonator -- yes, genuine white holly wood rather than the white-finished maple found on most "white holly" examples.
The obvious departures from Florentine specs are the fingerboard and peghead. Instead of the standard pearloid fingerboard with etched and tinted Italian scenes, and the pearloid peghead overlay with rhinestone inlays, this banjo has the pearl inlay patterns of the Bella Voce. Whether the idea was to make a Florentine that could be played without causing damage to the fingerboard or simply to offer another option to well-heeled buyers (there were four standard wood and trim options offered on the Florentine), we don't know. But we do know that it's the only one we've ever seen.
This instrument (inventory #JE2542) is in exceptionally fine condition and, with a no-hole, raised head tone ring, it has a superb sound. With hard case it is priced at $12,500.
This instrument is SOLD
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