Dot inlay fret board. John- Thank-you for the detailed photos. P.S. These days, the banjo would probably fetch around $1000 if marketed online. All the best, Barry. Bob- Thanks for your query and kind words about my website. In recent years, Deeringrecreated andmarkets its ownVega Professional 4-stringer model with a classic wooden pie sectioned resonator. The label on the peg head reads Martin & Co and inside the rim reads Martin & Co and the number 993. What a wealth of information! Vega Tu-ba-phone Banjo | National Museum of American History All the best pickin`, and thanks for your kind words about my website. Barry. Vega Banjos - The Mandolin Pages If it has a wooden pot resonator, remove it and check the inner rim for identifiers. 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. Fender Standard Banjo Hardshell Case Black ,, kemenpppa.go.id 4kjzing@8x47evey1 I am a fan of the 27 scale and believe it has much to contribute tone-wise. A fabulous example of one of the finest banjos ever made, the Vega 5-string Pete Seeger long-necked folk banjo, produced as a result of the folk craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s. vega banjo identification. Let me know if you might have any questionsI really appreciate the work youre doing here. The first two digits tell you the month the banjo was built, the last two digits before the dash or space will tell you the year, and the numbers in between are considered the number of that model we have made since we started the formal serial number system in 1987. Ironically, C.F. Photos of the banjo might possibly shed some light on the mystery, if you are so inclined. Hello and thank you so much for your hard work and dedication. The rich heritage of Vega was derelict for 5 years until Deering rescued it by acquiring rights to the brand name in 1989. Congratulations on having two vintage VM banjos, and your gracious comments about the Info site are much appreciated. My Vega VIP has the Martin decal on the back of the headstock. 2 Vega banjo from the early Boston era. During this transitional period, Boston parts were shipped to Nazareth for assembly, and Martin pre-fixed the traditional six digit Vega serial number with the letter `M`. Martin purchased the Vega brand in May in 1970 and just before the factory was transferred to Pennsylvania. The Banjo Rehabilitation Center archives contain the serial numbers and dates of manufacture of the Vega-Martin banjos made in Nazareth, PA, during the 1970`s. In the meantime, keep on pickin` that Pro-5. Thank-you for your kind words about my website, and all blessings to you and yours this coming holiday season. A nice banjo- enjoy. ), Wim- Congratulations on procuring such a lovely vintage instrument. They all had yellow serial number stickers. Martin shortly after its bitter 1977 luthier strike following which their banjo production dwindled to almost nothing in Nazareth, PA. Those few Tubaphones which were made in Pennsylvania bore SN`s in the 1600-1945 range per the shop log book. After Martin purchased Vega in 1970, the factory transitioned from Needham Heights to Nazareth, PA. The Folk Wonder model does not appear in the 1972 or 1976 Vega Martin catalogues, but its resonator version the `Wonder` model does. The PS-5 is advertised in the 1970 and 1972 Vega/Martin catalogues but is absent from the 1976 catalogue where the No. 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. I have a Martin Vega Banjo, #324. The Vega Regent is one of the classic 5-string banjos of the Vega line. The hardware on the V-41 is chrome-plated, so maybe a nearby metal shop could patch it for you or at least identify the alloy. Also, Deering uses a 3-ply 1/2 rock maple rim, compared to the 5/8 10-ply rim typically found in most Martin Nazareth produced Voxes in the 1970s. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Vintage Vega Banjo - musical instruments - by owner - sale Could you tell me where it was built and what its value is today ? I cant find that picture, but Ill see if I can locate it, as someone else may have sent it to me playing the banjo out at afestival in Arizona. There is no #1 Martin banjo listed, but banjos #6-8 were Vega Vox-4-T tenors built per Shop Order 2087. sir- need some help. Martin stamp. Jack. The finish was shaded mahogany, and the metal rim parts were nickel plated. Where is the serial number on a Vega banjo? - chroniclesdengen.com Vega enthusiasts Help with this mystery - Discussion Forums - Banjo Hangout Neck and rim look a lot like made by Martin craftsmen, and it arrived set up perfectly. Both of these models had block mother of pearl inlays, with fewer inlays appearing on the new scaled-down Pro fretboard. On PLICSCOM menu under 'Information'. Barry. Of note, banjo SN 136 manufactured in 1972 was a Vega Vox I plectrum and not a 5-stringer like yours. A total of 98 model D-76E guitars were also made for employees. Martin decal on the back of your peghead and on the inner rim. Photos are available. Comparison of Best Banjo Strings Top Picks 2023 Reviews After a loooong wait I finally got it in 1971 . Informacje o Martin V730 StringsVega struny banjo 5str 10-23,10 - 11109713090 w archiwum Allegro. The Vega Company manufactured of this era were assembled at the 40 Leon Street factory in Boston from 1961-1966, and subsequently at the 155 Reservoir Street facility outside Boston in suburban Needham Heights from 1966-1971(C. F. Martin acquired the company in May 1970 and continued some manufacturing/assembly there until moving fully to Martins factory in Nazareth, PA). The C.F. Another side note, Greg Deering has made two prototype Voxes alreadyI have played one of them, which is basically an identical design to the 1967 Vox I with a paddle peghead and crown inlays. C.F. Mark- Thank you for the very helpful series of photos and your kind comments about the website. Each of the men is posed in front of a Vega model 131 amplifier, identical to the unit which remains with the banjo today. Unfortunately, many 4-string players of a certain generation seem to think that their banjos will command higher priceseven the Gibson flat heads used for 5 string conversion have taken a tumble and are are half on what they were 5 years ago. Deering now owns the Vega line and offers open-back Tubaphones in their inventory. The highly ornate Vega Vox IV banjo with serial number #1969 was the final officially documented banjo manufactured by C. F. Martin in Nazareth, PA. , circa 1978-79. The 1971-72 VM log books show 22 VIP banjos (most 5-stringers with a few tenor and plectrums) bearing the 6 digit Boston serial numbers, and thereafter the SN`s convert to digits #1 through #1969. Below are more Letters from the BRC Archives. Its mostly been in storage since I purchased it in the late 1970s. 7. In PACTware software. Depending upon condition, it is probably worth somewhere around $750 these days. Like my dad, I am a musician and physician and treasure his professional and avocational memorabilia. Barry, I have an open back Vega long neck with C F Martin Co logo on the back of the machine head and inside the rim. A: There are a very few Fairbanks made banjos (several of them Regents) with pre-fire serial numbers circa 22900, stamped simply "Vega" in an oval border. Hope this helps and thanks for your post. I purchased the instrument from a private dealer (Kingsport, TN) for $800. As you have observed, the VIP tonering has holes grouped in threes, so maybe yours might be a lucky survivor from the early days of the VIP line when the model first appeared in the 1970 Vega Martin catalogue. and CXXVI (126?). It appears to be serial number 231 (engraved). Thank you for all the information. post id: 7593773670. posted: 2023-02-27 00:34. Thought you might enjoy an article in All Frets from my good friend and American Banjo Museum curator, Johnny Baier, An Ode to the Vega VoxId like to think my bad influences have moved him over to the dark side as he is now a happy owner of his own deep resonator tenor with a calfskin head (it sounds fantastic). The construction features were changing on the Vox IV (most different from catalog images), but at this point Vega was still using dowel stick (rather than metal coordinator rods) to attach and adjust the neck, and adjustable truss rods in the neck were not added until 1955the early prewar type-construction was desired by many collectors. Banjo Parts & Accessories - Elderly Instruments In the 1972 Martin catalogue, the Professional appears identical to yours, but it is absent from the 1976 catalogue. If you could give me your thought about what its worth, I would appreciate it. These data were generously provided to the BRC founder in 2000 by the family owned Martin Guitar department of history. Data zakoczenia 2022-09-02 - cena 20,90 z This classic and ornate Vega series dates back to the 1920s but did not appear in the 1970 and 1972 Vega Martin catalogues. I have an ornate 5 string Martin Vega banjo with pie-plate style resonator. Some C.F. A previous owner had deeply scratched a Social Security number into its heel. The openbacks are made entirely of white oak and feature a midnight maple fingerboard and peghead overlay. This banjo was made by the Vega Company in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1922. Fairbanks and Vega banjo numbers are consecutive, and have no DIRECT relationship to the model, or production date. My other theory is that the pot, which bears a C.F. Martin was winding-down its banjo production, the metal engraving was subcontracted to Liberty Banjos. What can you tell me about the history and value of this one. If in poor condition, Ive seen them sell as low as $3000-4000. The serial number is found on a white tag on the inside of the resonator or if you have an openback banjo, it is a smaller white tag on the inside of the rim. Informacje o Martin V740 StringsVega strun banjo RETRO 10-23,10 - 11109692503 w archiwum Allegro. vega banjo identification Martin acquired Vega. I apologize for using this email to reach you, but I have a banjo question I hope you can help me with. In the Vega Martin shop files, banjo SN 916 is a VVI-P (Vega Vox Style 1 plectrum) resonator banjo made in 1974 in Nazareth, PA. Plectrum 4 stringers have 22 frets compared to the tenors that have 17 to 19 frets. Thanks from all of us! It is number E-5 in a limited edition of 16 instruments made in 1976. Lastly, the banjo could be cleaned-up and refitted at a local music shop, or referred by the shop to a nearby luthier for repairs; and you would have a workable starter banjo for taking some exploratory music lessons. Not quite as universally imitated as, say, Stradivari's violins or Martin's dreadnought guitars, but close. Here's a bit of description on the various models: This was also the case for their mandolin banjo lines. Martin also made 1976 model D-76 guitars to partner the banjo. vega banjo identification - pamelahudson.net Unbeknownstto most 5 string aficionados, the Martin Guitar Company manufactured Vega banjos from 1970 through 1979. 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. Shop today! Bill Keith Stainless Steel D-Tuners, for 2nd & 3rd strings. Data from these logbooks are available per e-mail request from the BRC founder. The Vega name on the head is not with the usual letters and there is no star there either. Your banjo was built circa 1964, and the A pre-fix to the serial number means `adjustable truss rod`. The number is painted on the bottom not pressed in the wood. Vega Banjos for Sale, New and Used - banjobarn.com After the original owner, Jack Mistretta, passed away in 1998, this banjo found its way to Japan, where noted jazz-banjoist, Ken Aoki, featured it for many years in his touring act. It is a top-of-the-line banjo that was paired with the reissued D-45 Martin guitar as a marketing strategy. Martin did not publish retail prices after 1971, so my guess is that this up scale model sold back then for around $600. Martin workshop logbook, open back Tu-Ba-Phone 5-string banjo SN 1707 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1976. Galaxy apparently went bankrupt around 1984 and vanished from the financial scene. Thanks again. 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. $5000 would be a reasonable number if in good conditionit could have brought $7500 a few years ago. William- Thanks for your post. Good luck and thanks again for your post. Theres precious little information about these instruments online. In that same period, twenty-one VV IV plectrums were manufactured. Thank you. The Wonder-5 was an entry level instrument with a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, a 3 piece maple neck, a blackwood fingerboard, 4 section flanges, nickel plated metal parts, and shaded mahogany finish. Vega Martin long neck PS-5 banjo SN 80 is one of eleven Pete Seeger 5-stringers manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1972 per Shop Order 2098. Micky- Thanks for your narrative on your Pete Seeger long neck. Serial numbers became unreliable during that era. Tim, Tim- Thanks much for your query. Vega De Luxe Electric Plectrum Banjo - Gruhn Guitars Barry, Marc- Thanks much for the prompt and telling photos. Martin, and the line was discontinued in 1975. Rob- Thank you for your kind comments about the BRC website, You are a lucky guy to have two Vega Martin 5-stringers, both made in Nazareth, PA. Nowadays, the Pro-5 would fetch around $1000-$1500 depending on condition. Evidently, there was a marketing strategy to partner the 5-string V-41 instrument with Martin`s popular D-41 guitar, but this ploy did not come to fruition. Im the happy owner of a Vega-Martin VW-5 Wonder 5 string, serial #1516. Jim _Thanks for your query. 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. port melbourne players; fair lawn high school graduation; vega banjo identification; By . Please take detailed photos of your banjo inside and outside. I lived in Needham MA for 20+ years, and Im wondering if that tone ring possibly came from Vegas final days in Needham. He is credited with being one of the first banjo-builders to install side brackets with hooks to adjust the tension of the head. Reply from our BRC Vega Vox consultant and scholar Dr. Ron: The timeline, serial number and pricing in 1970-71 seem rightit was probably in final assembly at Nazareth with a #7 new series serial number; the last of the M139400 yellow labels came out of the old Needham Heights Vega factory sometime in November 1971. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC recently showcased an exhibit of pre-1900 Martin guitars. Thanks again for your query, Barry. The resonator was hand-painted, and fancy engraved pearl inlays adorned the ebony fingerboard. The Vega Company reportedlyintroduced the first wooden sectioned pie resonator in mid 1923 for their Vega Professional 4-stringer. I got an old Vega banjo from my father. If someone could help her post it on eBay, it would probably get a decent price and a good home. I think Ill go look up a local banjo instructor and take a few lessons. So, the rim and rods appear be from a Vox I, and dogbone Tubaphone tonering would be typical of the 1970s period under Martin (some the later Voxesmade by Vega in Needham Heights before moving to Nazareth used these, aswell as slotted Tubaphones). The Martin Co. dropped the 6 digit serial number system in mid 1971 and then began again with #2- #1945, although a few special banjos up to #1969 were produced. With hard case. Martin`s beloved historian). Do you know how many Scruggs or Scruggs Soloists, and Sonny Osborne models were made under the Martin ownership and where made? This 5-stringer was manufactured circa 1845 in Baltimore, MD, by luthier William Boucher, Jr.. Thanks Again! I ordered. Used 5-String Open-Back Banjos | Intermountain Guitar & Banjo My estimate is that it might fetch $1800-2000 these days. Any idea where I might find one? vega banjo identification - Aviator Land After its Martin Guitar era, the Vega brand name ownership was sold overseas, and the banjo line fellinto obscurity. The overseas conglomerate Galaxy purchased the Vega line in 1979 and offered the T2-5 for $775 before going bankrupt in the mid 1980`s. The flanges, tension hoop, tailpiece and extended armrest are deeply and elaborately engraved, and were originally finished in a special hardened 24K gold electroplate. With appreciation, Barry, S.C.-Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your banjo. 403.80. very carefully, I did and its four digits # 1450. it looks very good to me as far as the condition, its just old and kind of dirty. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/307507 vinman - Posted - 08/09/2015: 18:02:24 Vega/Fairbanks open-back banjo designs are exemplary classics. Martin made 76 commemorative V-76 banjos in 1976 to celebrated the bicentennial of the USA. vega serial numbers - Discussion Forums - Banjo Hangout Specs are equal to the popular Gold Tone MM-150 with the addition of three extra frets allowing the banjo to tune to EBEG#B. The local music store said they would give her 120$ for it. Vega Tenor Banjo Serial Numbers - evertx Many thanks to you and your friend Ron for putting me straight. This is a beautiful banjo! vega banjo identification. Martin Company acquired the Vega rights from the Bostonian Nelson Family in May of 1970 and sold the franchise overseas in March of 1979. In May of 1970, C.F. I am assuming someone may have penciled in an extra 1 on yours, but my best guess is that it was made sometime in the last half of 1963 (A12130 was the first banjo produced in Jan 64).
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