I gave alot of money for this, just hoping a made a decent deal. 2 Vega banjo from the early Boston era. It appears in the transitional Vega/Martin product list of 1970 and lastly in the 1972 Vega Banjo Catalog (The CF Martin Organization). Answer: Tu-Ba-Phone 5-String made 1978-1979. THE BRC THANKS YOU FOR VISITING THE VEGA MARTIN BANJO INFO PAGE. Reverb Homepage Contact Support 539673d7daac40d5a6fd870a259b9813 Shop Gear Categories Brands Shops Deals and Steals Price Drops 0% Financing New and Popular Handpicked Collections Sell on Reverb After 20 years, the wear and tear on a refinished instrument may reduce the value further. Your F-VIP (Folk-Very Important Player) banjo #1456 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1975 in a lot of 3 such instruments per Shop Order 2274. Your 5-stringer serial #993 is one of six Pro-5`s manufactured per Shop Order # 2211 in mid 1974 by C.F. This is a beautiful banjo! If you had a picture archive, Id be happy to post some pictures. Both of these models had block mother of pearl inlays, with fewer inlays appearing on the new scaled-down Pro fretboard. C.F. Not quite as universally imitated as, say, Stradivari's violins or Martin's dreadnought guitars, but close. It was a student model that Eddie convinced long time friend and Vega owner/president to make positioned as a lower cost alternative to the Vox I/Professional IIit was an upgrade over the Little Wonder/Ranger banjos. Item # 9126. $5000 would be a reasonable number if in good conditionit could have brought $7500 a few years ago. A previous owner had deeply scratched a Social Security number into its heel. The Vega line was then marketed in the USA by TMC Company (Targ & Dinner 20 Century Music Company). Hope this helps and all the best in 2019, Barry. John- Thank-you for the detailed photos. If you want a more Bluegrass sound, try a 5-Star head from Stew Mac. Despite showing its age as a workhorse performance instrument with extensive wear-and-tear, a friend of mine in San Diego purchased this one-of-a-kind banjo in Vega and Martin history in 2007 and had it beautifully restored to its current condition by the American Banjo Hall-of-Fame member, Renee Karnes. . Cobra hooks first appear circa 1881 on Fairbanks & Cole banjos. Categories . VEGA Vegaphone 'Professional' Tenor Banjo $2,328.30 $131.44 shipping or Best Offer 19 watching Vega Style N Tenor Banjo $799.00 $83.00 shipping or Best Offer 20's Bacon/Day/Vega 4 String Banjo Groovers, Oettinger Tailpiece $3,777.77 Free shipping Vintage Vega Wonder Plectrum 4 String Banjo With Hard Shell Case $1,161.96 Was: $1,399.95 An Original Fairbanks 5-String Banjo with a replaced ebony fingerboard and peg-head facing, with added appropriate pearl inlays. Your VW-5 would fetch $700-$1000 these days. Hello, P.S. About 20 years ago I had it re-fretted , re-finished , and the gold re-plated . Bill- Thanks for your query. These were followed by banjos #9-14 which were Vega Vox-4-P plectrums per Shop Order 2088. Barry. Been used in the studio and loaned to a friend about 30 years ago while he his banjo was being repaired. 6. The VIP banjo last appeared in the 1976 VM catalog as an open back instrument but still featuring the V.I.P. Barry, I have purchased a Martin Vega V-45 described as 1971 production and a serial number of #327. Barry, My Vega VIP 5-string has S/N 2316 painted inside the rim, which I presume means it was assembled by Galaxy in Asia. Martin made 101 of the PS-5 instruments which listed for $488 without case in the final V/M price list in 1971. The original prototype was designed and built by the Vega Company in 1969, for the legendary King of the Banjo Eddie Peabody to commemorate his 50th year in show business. From the BRC, Barry. Hope this helps, and all the best picking, Barry. Martin Vega Banjo Strings Features: Tin-plated steel core is responsive, lively, and resilient Nickel alloy wrap wire is consistently smooth and tonally flexible for a variety of playing styles Medium gauge for full-bodied tone and strong midrange response Tech Specs Number of Strings: 5 String Material: Steel Winding Material: Nickel Alloy The Martin Co. sold the Vega franchise to the Asian conglomerate `Galaxy Trading Company` in 1979, and thereafter Vega banjos were manufactured in South Korea. Thanks for the photo of your Vega/Martin Pro-5 banjo. The rich heritage of Vega was derelict for 5 years until Deering rescued it by acquiring rights to the brand name in 1989. Vega Kingston Trio Tom Dooley Long Neck Banjo, Vega Kingston Trio - Bob Shane Plectrum Banjo, Reutschi | Kruger Bell Bronze Tone Ring(Unplated). I have original case. Can you tell me about it? Tuned 1-1/2 steps lower than a standard 5-string banjo, the Maple Mountain Series MM-150LN is set up for the best singing keys. The Item # was VT2NRC. Martin Vega Banjo 5-Strings, Medium Gauge (V740) Check Price at Amazon. It appears to be serial number 231 (engraved). Save on our most popular Goodtime banjos - the Goodtime openback and the Goodtime Two - at your favorite Deering dealer today! In the final Martin price listed published in 1971, it listed for $345 without case. I have had the opportunity to do this only once for a friend who traded some vintage parts with me for an old flange that I had by serendipity on my workshop shelf. As Barry indicates, a photo of the yellow sticker will be helpful here. Roger- Thanks much for your query. The resonator back and sidewall colored engravings are probably the key feature that might bring more value than lessthere were two likely designs at this time a tiffany-style web pattern with a floral vine on the side (first used in 1930) or the late 1940s Indian blanket Art Deco design.I have an original 1948 model that has the older style neck, with the new resonator designso , its a mixed bag during this time as Vega was experimenting with parts off the shelf when banjo sales were extremely low (maybe 20 per year) and their focus was on guitar and ukulule production instead.Pricing for 4 strings (and 5 strings) have dropped considerably over last 2-3 years for vintage banjosVoxes have held more than others. C.F. post . By my count, Martin made 16 V-45 banjos that were 5-stringers, 3 plectrums (V45-P), and one (V45-T) tenor model. My other theory is that the pot, which bears a C.F. The Vega Ultra Vox V is among the rarest of the limited, special order edition banjos made by either Vega of Boston or Martin. Vega Banjo Identification Professional Had Black. In my files, the PS-5 is seen in a Vega (Boston) flyer in 1961 where it lists for $309. The tone ring holes are grouped in sets of three rather than equally spaced as on a tubaphone ring. Bill Keith Stainless Steel D-Tuners, for 2nd & 3rd strings. Your instrument is a tenor arch top 4-stringer made in the early 1980`s. vega banjo identification. Really sounds and pays great. Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. Martin purchased Vega in May of 1970, and production transitioned from Boston to Nazareth, PA. Hello and thank you so much for your hard work and dedication. With appreciation, Barry. My Vega VIP has the Martin decal on the back of the headstock. On the inner rim of the back cover is another Martin logo and the (embossed in white) number 887. The number will be 6-12 digits long depending on what year it was made. thanks for the very informative web site The Life & Times of the Pete Seeger 5-string Folk Banjo - 1958 - 1970. Thanks again. It is a Four-String Banjo, Tu-ba-phone Model No. 5. Being a low end instrument, the early FR-5 model had no connecting rod. All the very best from the BRC, Barry, Thank you, Barry. My estimate is that it would fetch up to $900 these days depending on condition Hope this helps and thanks from the BRC, Barry, Hello , I am writing from France where I found a banjo that I want to buy, but which I have no information. Your other VIP-5 with SN 1766 was assembled from parts sent to Japan in 1977 when the Martin company had its difficult luthier strike. Vega Martin banjo SN 1795 was one of three special order V-45 5-string banjos manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1977 per Shop Order 2335. Greg Deering acquired rights to the Vega brand name in 1989 and restored the banjo line to greatness. Location. Data zakoczenia 2022-09-02 - cena 20,90 z Nowadays, the Pro-5 would fetch around $1000-$1500 depending on condition. By early 1971, Martin began to assemble banjos from Boston-made parts in Nazareth using the Vega six digit serial number system prefixed with the letter M for Martin and beginning with Shop Order 2001. Thank you for all the information. It has dual rods running through the pot and it has the tubaphone tone ring. The inside of the banjo is also blank except for the painted serial number 2207. The long neck banjo is less popular nowadays with the surge in Bluegrass music, but I have two of them and value their mellow wife-friendly tone. Martin manufactured only 33 VW-plectrum banjos. The metal parts were chrome-plated. Thanks for sharing your fascinating banjo with the BRC, Barry. Your 5 string model was featured in the subsequent 1979 TMC Vega catalogue as an instrument similar to old style Vega Tu- Ba-Phone No.9.. banjo, and it listed then for $1250. The BRC Archives contain the serial numbers of these unique Vega-Martin banjos. Hello, I just stumbled onto this site today 4/16/20. It look and plays great. I tried to find your email address at your Banjo homepage without any success. For example: 0534599-7362 would be a banjo from May of 1999. Your banjo neck is from a Martin Tu-Ba-Phone 5-string banjoas advertised in a Martin flyer circa 1978, and the potalso looks like a left-over rim inherited from theNazareth, PA, company. Would appreciate any information you can provide to verify the model and any original cost/current value. Thanks to BRC Consultant and Vega Vox scholar Dr. Ron from everyone at the BRC for providing representative images typical of this historic crowning jewel (see below correspondences #24). Vega Regent Model 5 String Banjo (1925), made in Boston, Mass., natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case. Data from these logbooks are available per e-mail request from the BRC founder. When C. F. Martin Co. bought the Vega banjo line in May of 1970, hundreds of parts were inherited from the Needham Heights factory near Boston. I would love to be able to date this banjo: SN 999 as a decal under the Martin logo inside the rim with the Martin logo decal on the back side of the peghead as well. Martin in Nazareth, PA. Just found you today . All the best, Barry. vega banjo identification. Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb Oops, Something went wrong. If in poor condition, Ive seen them sell as low as $3000-4000. Ernie Ball 5-String Medium Stainless Steel Banjo Strings, 10-10 Gauge (P02309) Check Price at Amazon. In the 1970 transitional Vega/Martin banjo catalogue, their Pro model line is conspicuosly absent; and instead, is seen a nearly identical twin Bobby Joe Fenster style banjo named after a fictitious nerdy folk musician invented by Martin in 1967 as an insider marketing joke. It retailed for $488 without case in the 1970 Vega Martin catalog, and it last appeared in the 1972 VM catalogue without a suggested price. Steve in Oz, April 24, 2016 at 1:23 pmSteve- Thanks for your post and glad to hear that a `Wonder` banjo made it `Down Under` during the Vega Martin era. I would like to know a little more about it. Although C.F. As your banjo bears no C.F. The V-45 appears on the cover of the 1972 catalogue, and it was billed as our finest Bluegrass banjo in the 1976 catalogue. It looks like a well-preserved and fun mid range banjo waiting to be enjoyed by an appreciative musician like yourself. The finish was shaded mahogany, and the metal rim parts were nickel plated. I have 3 Vega banjos , 1963 Earl Scruggs model A 10921(Scruggs ST-5, handwritten in red ink under that on yellow label) which I played for 23 years, she has a very mellow sound. It did not have a tone ring or simply a steel ring like the Wonder, to keep the cost down. Reply from our BRC consultant and Vega Vox scholarDr. Ron: The Vega Vox IV was the top of the line banjo in the Vox (deep resonator) line for Vega Co. of Boston in the 1950sthe serial number is consistent with a 1951 model. Martin 1970 catalogue described ashaded mahogany finish on the Wonder model, and the 1976 Martin catalogue reported thatthe Wonder banjo bore a mahogany color finish. There are no other identification markings on the instrument and it definitely does not say Martin anywhere. Vega Pete Seeger Model Longneck Model 5 String Banjo (1961), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 100971, shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case. They are 230, 243, 353, LVII (57?) The Pro-5 does not appear in the 1976 Vega Martin catalogue. This is a stock neck off a Martin-made tenor from that erathe fingerboardblock inlay is what would be found on only the Vox I or Pro. Thanks so much Ill get back to you if any further questions. Im sure theres a story behind this banjo and why it was made. Q: At what point did Vega go from ball end to open end bracket nuts? Just found this wonderful site. It was recommended by Bob Smakula that I send some photos to you and that you might have more information. Photos are available. Per my files, the Pete Seeger long neck first appears in a Vega flyer in 1961 for $309. The five number labels were found in banjos made from 1962 through February 1964, involving serial numbers A10300 through A12400. Isgho Votre ducation notre priorit . I was lucky enough to buy one but, as my music and and the type of music I had to play to get work changed, I hardly played this, near mint condition, banjo. Im the happy owner of a Vega-Martin VW-5 Wonder 5 string, serial #1516. Ive owned one for 30 yrs though I dont play it very well. Galaxy marketed its 4 and 5 stringers in the USA via a remarkably unimaginative TMC catalog in which each banjo was identified only with an Item number but no model moniker to give it personality like the Pro-5 or Wonder banjos named by the earlier corporate owners. The top-of-the-line model that Martin-Vega offered during the 1970s was the special order Ultra Vox V. At the end of the production run in 1979, the MSRP list price in the catalog was $3600 (exactly the same as the Martin D-45 guitar). It sounds like your banjo is maybe a hybrid made overseas after 1976-1977 when Vega Martin parts were shipped to Japan and later Canada for assembly. so it does say Martin on the back and its vega on the front. Serial numbers became unreliable during that era. Martin historian Mike Longworth. Banjoman- C.F. This email will be copied to my Vega Vox scholar Dr. Ron for his insights and comments.From the BRC, Barry. Ive also got some remaining parts from the renovation process Id happily like to donate, including the original chrome-plated brass tailpiece, and a couple of almost unused heads. A total of 101 PS-5 instruments were manufactured in Pennsylvania. Of note, banjo SN 136 manufactured in 1972 was a Vega Vox I plectrum and not a 5-stringer like yours. Since that day in 1989, Deering has breathed new life into the Vega name, blending over a century of tradition with Deering's banjo building expertise, to create a range of heritage rich open back and longneck banjos that are as integral to the modern folk sounds of The Avett Brothers as they were to Pete Seegers personal revolution. Martin, and the line was discontinued in 1975. Be safe, be well, keep on picking. Vega Long Neck Banjo $5,399.00 Vega White Oak Long Neck Banjo 11" from $2,599.00 Vega Kingston Trio Tom Dooley Long Neck Banjo $15,599.00 Vega Woodsongs Campfire Long Neck Banjo $2,399.00 Sold Out Vega Professional 19-Fret Tenor Banjo $7,499.00 Vega Kingston Trio Long Neck Banjo $6,299.00 Vega Kingston Trio - Bob Shane Plectrum Banjo One of the best known Kay electric guitars during the 1950s was the K-161 "Thin Twin", most visibly used by blues artist Jimmy Reed. It is in excellent condition but missing a resonator thumbscrew with the threaded washer. Depending upon condition, it is probably worth somewhere around $750 these days. You are so kind to provide this great info to all of us banjo geeks. Deering now owns the Vega brand, and it is rumored that they may revive the deep resonator design. Im now forced to sell several beloved instruments but have no idea how to price this gem. I recently had a luthier friend do setup on it and he found the pot metal rim flange to be broken and wont allow me to have the head at proper tension. The shoes (instead of Vox next nut shoes) and the round hook and nutassemblies are probably from stock, as I have some still lying around athome that I bought from Martin back then to replace on a 1929 Vegaphone(which are slightly different). In the meantime, thanks again for your post. I really appreciate your orientation. The back of the headstock is blank. Many thanks to you and your friend Ron for putting me straight. Serial # 1795. Its in excellent condition other than needing some cleaning and a little metal polish on the metal parts. What can you tell me about the history and value of this one. From the BRC, Barry. I dont play any instrument right now. # 1713? Id like to echo previous comments and thank you for a great, great website, chock full of useful information. Vega Banjo Serial Number Lookup Known Problems with Gretsch's Serial Number System: Due to the various renumbering schemes, there are Gretsch-built Bacons and B&D's with 3 digit, 4 digit and 5 digit serial numbers, which confuses identification of instruments made between 1910 and 1940. I orderedit in 1970 through a music store in Norwich , Ct run by Cliff Tidd . Inside your device. Martin built only 29 T2-5 banjos, but no price list is available after 1971 preceding resurrection of the classic Vega T2-5 model for production. Martin Vega Banjo Strings Features: Tin-plated steel core is responsive, lively, and resilient Nickel alloy wrap wire is consistently smooth and tonally flexible for a variety of playing styles 4-string tenor gauge is mellow and warm and accents low to midrange frequencies Tech Specs Number of Strings: 4 String Material: Tin-plated Steel Im not very knowledgable about banjos so please forgive my terminology. Fairbanks Banjos - Serial Numbers and Features by year Fairbanks Banjos SERIAL NUMBERS A.C. Fairbanks - Maker ~1875 - 1880 Sporadic numbers have been found written in the wooden hoops of 5 of these earliest Fairbanks banjos. 1833 decal is absent from the inner rim. Ernie- It would be helpful if you could send a photo of your yellow sticker, as I suspect that your Vega Vox IV was manufactured in Boston in 1964 after Vega reconverted to a six digit serial number during the pre- C.F. Fender Standard Banjo Hardshell Case Black ,, kemenpppa.go.id [email protected] FAIRBANKS BANJO MANDOLINE. I apologize for using this email to reach you, but I have a banjo question I hope you can help me with. When C.F. The melody banjo was the equivalent of a 4 string mandolin banjo. 0 bids. With appreciation, Barry, S.C.-Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your banjo. Published by at 16 de junio de 2022. The first SN#720 I know is a VW-5 because it has the original hang tag. Your comments about the color tone differences of Vega/Boston vs. Martin/Nazareth resonator banjos are curious, and I do not have an accurate answer for it. Also, the banjo has some ornate details carved in it. Fairbanks & Cole Mark- Thank you for the very helpful series of photos and your kind comments about the website. Thanks from the BRC, Barry, Hi Barry! I recently took my Dads 4 string banjo out of storage after approximately 25 years since his passing. The problem is that the serial number labels at this time had printing errors, where the first numeric digit was omitted. Galaxy went bankrupt in a few years, and the Vega brand was purchased in 1989 by Deering in California who restored the instrument line to greatness. Ironically, C.F. Martins acquisition of Vega of Bostonand, the only other one completed in the old Needham Heights factory before banjo production finally moved to Nazareth. Dot inlay fret board. From the BRC, Barry. The VM price list in 1971 quoted a sales tag of $545 for the Pro-5 without case. It listed back then for $345 without to BRCcase. My estimate is that your vintage instrument is worth $1500-1700. The number is painted on the bottom not pressed in the wood. Ive attached a photo of that Coat of Arms resonator next to my Vox Vit was a spare they had made for Eddie Peabody. Martin was winding-down its banjo production, the metal engraving was subcontracted to Liberty Banjos. Hope this helps and thanks for your post. This classic and ornate Vega series dates back to the 1920s but did not appear in the 1970 and 1972 Vega Martin catalogues. Despite its puzzling serial number, your instrument is a Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe 5-string. This is an early and very nice example of the classic Vega . Its mostly been in storage since I purchased it in the late 1970s. Subject: Help with ID of Vega Banjo please. It also features the four digit SN imprinted into the outside of the holes in groups of three tone ring, clearly done before the plating, and visible only when dissembled. It originally came with an arm rest, rotomatic tuning pegs, and a plastic head. Do you have any information on it? The story he told was that it was a distress sale for a friend, and that the banjo was one of 1000 limited editions and had a solid silver tone ring, and was worth at least twice the price. My personal suggestion, however, is to preserve it as a tangible keepsake of the priceless moments spent with your father years ago. Deering purchased the Vega franchise in1989 restoring the line to greatness. In the Martin log book, the last six digit (Vega) serial number was 130392 in 1972 after which began the Martin digits. Can you tell me what year this banjo was made and what my aunt could legitimately ask for it? Martin logbook, banjo SN 1450 was an entry level Wonder model 4 string plectrum banjo made in 1975. (BTW, foradditional postings select Vega Martin Stories on the homepage menu or enter Vega Martin in the search engine. GREAT FORUM. S.C.- Thank you for your query to the BRC. The Vega Vox model was a 4 string gem that featured a brass tone ring. my Martin/Vega PS5 #481 is about a month into my possession. It is veryinteresting that it has the non-ebonized finish on the peghead cap, whichcoincided with the move production to Nazareth (adopting stained rosewood asthey used on the guitars). tone ring that you have. Martin also made 1976 model D-76 guitars to partner the banjo. Bob- Thank you for your kind words about my website, and I reply with compliments to your luthier shop with which I am familiar. Wim, (Ed.- Note the classic Tubaphone tone ring. anderson and associates debt collector, lady justice statue london, 2nd ranger battalion commander,
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