NMM 7416.  Mandolin-banjo by Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, ca. 1924. Style MB-3.  Serial number 8544-14. Gift of Clay H. Johnson, Jr., O'Neill, Nebraska, 1999. The Gibson mandolin-banjo provided a strong soprano voice in the popular banjo orchestras of the 1920s, combining the construction of a banjo with the penetrating, steel, double stringing of the mandolin. Taking over from the pre-WWI mandolin orchestra craze, the "modern" banjo orchestras also featured new instruments, such as the metal-strung tenor and plectrum banjos, which filled out the mid and lower ranges of the orchestra. Conveniently, the mandolin-banjo allowed mandolin players to perform in the fashionable banjo orchestras without re-learning their technique. This mandolin-banjo is currently on loan for the NMM-designed exhibition, "Ya Gotta Know the Territory:  The Musical Journey of Meredith Willson," at the Meredith Willson Museum, Mason City, Iowa. Return to Gibson Banjo Checklist National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2005-2008 Most recent update: June 19, 2008 You are the 23,629th visitor to this page since May 4, 2005 The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page