The Granada was not that fancy by the standards of the jazz banjo era (see the Bella Voce, Florentine, and All American), but it was definitely a deluxe instrument with its highly-figured curly maple and its gold-plated and engraved hardware. #9470-28 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. factory order numbers) dates to 1929 and is from the first lot of TB-Granadas made in the model’s new configuration featuring a one-piece flange, double-cut peghead, flying eagle inlays, and sunburst-finished curly maple resonator. This example remains in excellent original condition with the exception of a postwar tailpiece replacing the original Grover “clamshell”. The original pot-metal flange is the first-generation type with corresponding “fat” rim measuring .640″ thick at the bottom rather than the the .625″ dimension seen in banjos with the later, more heavily-built flange; #9470-28 is accompanied by its original factory hang tag featuring Gibson’s slogan “The Music Pal of the Nation”.
#9470-28 is now equipped with a conversion five-string neck by Frank and Ricky Neat of Russell Springs, Kentucky.
Photos courtesy of an anonymous owner.