OB-275 (Previously the OB-175)

This is not Chinese made! As you know, quality bluegrass banjos, less than $1400, are made in China. Not with the OB-275! We teamed up with a very small woodworking factory (think 8 workers) in Korea and for a year taught them our techniques to establish a model superior to any Chinese product in this price range.

Our first ever BELL BRONZE PRE-WAR ALLOY Tone Ring. For over a year we have been experimenting with bronze alloys trying to find one for the perfect tone. The pre-war tone ring (the holy grail of bluegrass tone) was actually at least three different bronze alloy formulas, depending on the year of manufacture. We discovered these 3 alloys, had tone rings made from each one, and chose the bronze alloy content with the most penetrating tone.

Our GTR TONE RING SHAPE has a rounded top edge, which compared to the typical sharp angle on the common flat top ring adds more contact area for vibration transfer. This allows the head to be tuned tighter if desired. The original and our ring look and sound amazingly similar.

The DESIRED FEATURES of the OB-175 include a 3-ply maple Canadian tone rim, cast flange, maple neck, mahogany resonator, ebony fingerboard, double adjusting truss rod, and superior tuners.

The OB-175 has PERFECT FITTING PARTS. This small factory is capable of the perfect tone ring fit, the perfect neck to pot fit, and a perfectly straight neck. Before delivery, we do all the final assembly and adjustments here in Florida. We check every adjustment to make sure the set-up is optimum for tone and playability. PLUS this comes standard with our LIFETIME WARRANTY, which is also transferable. Not even domestic builders can offer that.

By Wayne Rogers

(Formerly the OB-175 - The name was changed to the OB-275 for 2011 but is the same model)

Woods
Neck	Maple	Resonator	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Ebony	Bridge	Maple ebony cap
Finishing Touches
Wood Finish	Vintage mahogany	Fingerboard Inlay	Vintage cross/diamond
Headstock Inlay	OB-250 style	Neck Binding	ABS white
Body Binding	ABS white
Parts & Hardware
Nut	Bone	Tuners	GTS with leather washers
Tailpiece	Presto-Style	Flange	One piece cast
Tone Ring	Bronze (pre-war formula) GTR	Strings	Light gauge
Rim	3-ply Candian maple	Plating	Chrome
Tension Hoop	Brass, chrome plated	Arm Rest	Bluegrass style double leg
Electronics
Pickup	Optional
Dimensions
Scale	26 3/16	Weight	12 lbs
Nut Width	1 3/16	Frets	22
Head Size	11" coated high collar
Suggested Retail Price: $1,459.00