Remo Frosted Top Banjo Head, 11 Inch Diameter, Medium Crown (7/16 Inch) $19 USD. My estimate is that the banjo might be worth $500-$700 depending on condition. All the very best from the BRC, Barry, Thank you, Barry. 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. Deering Banjo Company now owns the Vega brand, and you might contact them regarding a custom device if you want parts within the historic Vega lineage. Hello, I just stumbled onto this site today 4/16/20. The number is painted on the bottom not pressed in the wood. A total of 98 model D-76E guitars were also made for employees. Vega Banjos for Sale, New and Used - banjobarn.com Im hoping I can find a V41 pot. The only serial number is 1120. Martin`s transition from traditional Spanish, Viennese, and Renaissance structural features towards innovating a modern acoustic guitar with a unique cross brace design. 403.80. Good luck with your vintage Seeger long neck and photos of this prize would be most welcome for posting here if you are so inclined. Dave- Thank you for your kind words about the website and the narrative about your Vega Vox IV tenor banjo. Would appreciate any information you can provide to verify the model and any original cost/current value. 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. 5. But with original Whyte Laydie banjo rims being in demand for converting to 5-string instruments, this one is an ideal candidate. The build quality is quite immaculate, both wood and hardware. Your VW-5 model Vega Wonder banjo SN 721 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in late 1973 per Shop Order 2181. Again, thanks for your post. 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. Great sound and in excellent condition. !Gary, Gary- Thanks for your query. 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. . Your banjo with SN 1046 was one of five PS-5 instruments manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1974 per Shop Order 2218, and after that C.F. Can you tell me what year it was made and by whom? It retailed for $345 in the 1971 Vega Martin price list. This did include the instalment of a Fiberskyn head to mellow down the tone somewhat, of a geared 5th string tuner, and of a (very nice) tailpiece to replace the chrome plated Waverly (everything else nickel). 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. Micky- Thanks for your narrative on your Pete Seeger long neck. In the Boston era, Pete Seeger was listed as an exclusive Vega product banjoist in a 1961 flyer from their Columbus Avenue business headquarters, and his endorsed PS-5 was featured prominently in the 1963 and 1966 Vega catalogs. Flanked by interactive faculty at a northeastern banjo camp, the BRC founderproudly shows-off his Vega VIP banjo built in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in 1975. Vega Banjo Identification Vega Tenor Banjo Serial Numbers Chart Vega Tenor Banjo Serial Numbers Vintage Mandolin Banjo Fairbanks Vega Company Boston USA 1920 6 Saiten Einige der Spanner samt Schrauben und sowie die Saiten sind nicht vorhanden. Martin did not publish suggested retail prices after 1971, but I would estimate the V-76 sold for around $7-800 with case. The finish was shaded mahogany, and the metal rim parts were nickel plated. Go online to `Images for Vega Folk Ranger banjo and enjoy (but don`t confuse your FR-5 with its cousin the Folk Wonder model FW-5). From the BRC site this banjo was made circa 1975-1976 in and around Nazareth PA. Do I have the have the provenance correct? The peg head engraving and paint motif matched the resonator. Note the unique cluster of 3 sound apertures spaced around the tone ring of the below VIP-5 model owned by the BRC founder (SN 1364). From the BRC, Barry. Any help with identifying it (I cant find a serial number anywhere) or locating buyers would be so gratefully welcomed! Roger- Thanks much for your query. Is 887 also a Pro5? In my files, the PS-5 is seen in a Vega (Boston) flyer in 1961 where it lists for $309. 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. 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. Can`t find anything about it on line. Serial number assignment and record keeping fell into disarray from 1977 to 1979. Thanks for your very kind words about the BRC website. Per the 1971 Martin price list, the recommended retail price back then was $545 with out case which cost another $68 for the hard shell version. I call him Rory, although much louder he has a beautiful rich tone, but is quite punchy.. Please try again. Barry. Thanks for sharing your fascinating banjo with the BRC, Barry. Kudos to Greg Deering who rescued the Vega brand name from extinction in 1989 and restored it to greatness. Today I purchase Vega PS-5, serial number M-130259. fender american professional ii vs ultra. 1929 Vega Tubaphone Longneck Conversion Banjo This banjo started its life in 1929 as a Vega Vegaphone tenor banjo. Martin manufactured 100 Pro-5 banjos including the temporary Bobby Joe Fenster variation. An example of one of these 4-stringers from the 1920`s is still in the C.F. Jack. 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 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. Vega - Elderly Instruments 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. 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. I had Renee Karnes carve the heel with a VV flower and leaf design to get rid of the SS #. - ORDERS OVER $199 SHIPPED TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S. Add to cart SKU: 2959 Categories: 5-String Openback Banjos, Banjos, Vega Description Additional information Reviews (1) Shipping, Returns & Exchanges About this Banjo Martin made 76 commemorative V-76 banjos in 1976 to celebrated the bicentennial of the USA. Greg also originally hand made the round hole Tubaphone tone rings, but now they have a fairly well honed machine manufacturing process. Of note, the tubular connecting rod and the Allen head screws seen in your banjo pot are design features left-over from the Vega era in Boston. Again, thanks for your query and photos. 2 classic model. My estimate is that it might fetch $1800-2000 these days. I was fortunate enough to visit the Needham factory (actually a cement-block garage-like building) in the mid-late 1960s and saw some early VIPs under construction. It has dual rods running through the pot and it has the tubaphone tone ring. I lived in Needham MA for 20+ years, and Im wondering if that tone ring possibly came from Vegas final days in Needham. Vega Pete Seeger Model Longneck 5 String Banjo (1961) The inside of the banjo is also blank except for the painted serial number 2207. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC recently showcased an exhibit of pre-1900 Martin guitars. I would appreciate it very much. If anybody can shed some light on what I have. The tailpiece does not look original, but the dual connecting rods are typical of the Martin design. Best wishes with your VIP and thanks again for your post, Barry. Vega Banjos - The Mandolin Pages Im not very knowledgable about banjos so please forgive my terminology. The tonering, bracket band, and notched tension hoop were all made of vibrant bell brass (Not die cast metal). Martin upgraded the maple rim to 10 ply after purchasing the Vega/Boston franchise in May of 1970. The larger connecting rod inside the pot is a spare part inherited from the Boston days of the Vega company. If this banjo has some more of the early prewar design features, add $1000-1500.Hope this helps, Dr. Ron. Vega banjos were then marketed in the USA by TMC (Targ & Dinner Music Company). Barry, I want to thank you very much for the research on my Vega. Your tenor 4-stringer was built in early 1972 per Shop Order 2051. From the BRC, Barry, I inquired on Banjo Hangout about information on a Vega banjo acquired from a friend. The new longneck was design to match the original neck in style and looks while also using some of Vega's Pete Seeger model as influence. Being a low end instrument, the early FR-5 model had no connecting rod. 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. Hope this helps, and all the best picking, Barry. and CXXVI (126?). With the original Hardshell case and the rare Earl Scruggs Tuners or de- tuners if you will. (They are NOT a 'coded' format.) This classic and ornate Vega series dates back to the 1920s but did not appear in the 1970 and 1972 Vega Martin catalogues. Smakula Fretted Instruments; Banjos Everywhere! Barry. Thank You for your time and web site. ), though, as said earlier, neck and rim look a lot like Martin quality. I have 5 different stringed instruments that just keep finding me, and I was nervous to take it apart so I could look at the serial number. Really sounds and pays great. My estimate would in the neighborhood of $1.5K depending on condition. The `41` engraved on the tailpiece no doubt refers to the model V-41 designation. Barry. Also, the banjo has some ornate details carved in it. My guess is that most of the left-over parts from near your home in Massachusettes were used up over the next ensuing 7 years of production, but there is an outside chance that a few spare parts like an occasional tonering survived and were transferred to Galaxy when it purchased Vega in 1979. Let me know if you might have any questionsI really appreciate the work youre doing here. In the 1960`s, the PS-5 featured a 3 piece ebony fingerboard and a Tube-a-phone tone ring of bell brass and a 5 ply maple rim. By the mid 1960`s, it was usually manufactured with a connecting rod. No M130097 Model: Wonder 5 St. Martin built 55 VIP-T instruments between 1972-79. As your banjo bears no C.F. Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb I have a Martin Vega Banjo, #324. Comparison of Best Banjo Strings Top Picks 2023 Reviews pine valley golf auction; what happened to thelma from amen; roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in education; what happens when you meet your twin flame Banjo SN 1648 is a `Folk Wonder` model (FW-5) which first appears in the Vega (Boston) catalogue in 1961 per my files. Family owned since 1972, Elderly Instruments is a music store specializing in new, used & vintage guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles and more. I have original case. The fascinatingwooden pie (sectioned) resonator is probably inherited from the Boston era Vega inventory. Joshua, Joshua-Thank you for your kind comments and the very detailed pictures. 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 is not to be confused with the metal pie plate or hubcap resonator manufactured by Elton in the 1930`s. I purchased the instrument from a private dealer (Kingsport, TN) for $800. Martin era. Rettberg & Lange(1898-1920) banjos were initially similar to Buckbee-made The two legendary musicians in the camp photo are banjo godfather Tony Trischka and Grammy award winner Eric Weissberg. Is it possible to tell me what model or style and year it was built also the value? Informacje o Martin V730 StringsVega struny banjo 5str 10-23,10 - 11109713090 w archiwum Allegro. Vega Pete Seeger 5-string Folk Banjo - 1958-1970 - The Canada Site it in 1970 through a music store in Norwich , Ct run by Cliff Tidd . I got an old Vega banjo from my father. # 1713? Subject: Help with ID of Vega Banjo please. Can you tell me more like age and value? If you had a picture archive, Id be happy to post some pictures. And recently I installed a new Elite head, which made a wonderful difference. Thank you so very much for this information! 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. Any clues? Great Savings & Free Delivery / Collection on many items. Barry, Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. Tom- Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your instrument. 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. As Barry indicates, a photo of the yellow sticker will be helpful here. my Martin/Vega PS5 #481 is about a month into my possession. Ive had several accomplished pickers really make it talk.wish I could!! Can you tell me what year this banjo was made and what my aunt could legitimately ask for it? My guess is that the lugs in your resonator have American (inch fraction) thread features, and it is doubtful that an original VIP thumb screw 4 decades old will appear on eBay- but who knows. Hope this helps and thanks for your post. I then discovered my Vega VIP Martin 1972 model #1766, a beautiful banjo which I have played for the past 12 years. The VW tenor 4 stringer was available in the 1963 and 1966 Vega catalogue, but the plectrum model did not appear in the Boston catalogue until 1968 when it listed for $325. $260 USD. The ebony fingerboard was on a mahogany neck, and a butterfly adorns the back of the resonator. Heres a link to a .zip file you can download. New and used generic flanges can be found on eBay, but getting one to fit your pot outer diameter and bracket hook sequence is tricky. New and Used Vega Banjos for Sale - banjobuyer.com I own a Vega VIP fivestring banjo, with serial number 130056. Your banjo SN 990 is indeed a Pro-5, and it was one of the last five Professional banjos built by VM in 1974 per Shop Order 2211. 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. In the final Martin price listed published in 1971, it listed for $345 without case. The Pro II model was advertised in the 1966 Vega catalogue with an up-graded and fancy mother of pearl inlay pattern as seen on your banjo. If someone could help her post it on eBay, it would probably get a decent price and a good home. Martin Company acquired the Vega rights from the Bostonian Nelson Family in May of 1970 and sold the franchise overseas in March of 1979. There is a star on the 5th fret. Your aunt`s banjo sounds like a stock model, so I would estimate that it would fetch $400-$700 on the open market. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Ranger sold for $125 in 1961 and $158 in 1966. The Martin log book in Nazareth, PA, begins with #130248 later in 1971. Ive owned one for 30 yrs though I dont play it very well. A nice banjo- enjoy. C.F. 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. Check Price at Amazon. TH, Tom- Thanks for your query. 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. GREAT FORUM. It is a beauty. Id like to echo previous comments and thank you for a great, great website, chock full of useful information. 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. Isgho Votre ducation notre priorit . P.S. Martin manufactured only 33 VW-plectrum banjos. The VIP model featured a unique `audio-sonic` bell brass tone ring, a scrolled peg head with ultra filagree pearl work, engraved pearl inlay in the ebony fretboard, a 10 ply maple rim with a heavy notched tension hoop, geared tuners, a walnut finish, and marquetry around the resonator. Your instrument SN 999 was one of five VIP-5 (Very Important Player) banjos was made in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1974 per Shop Order # 2212. 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 He could always check the stamp on the bottomthe tone ring to see if its a match to the rim (it should say V916). 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). so it does say Martin on the back and its vega on the front. Vega Banjo Identification Professional Had Black. It turned out the owner had another banjo that also resembled a Vega but had the same lack of Vega ID, turns our the name "W Fawly" was on the wooden center dowel . The F-VIP is first mentioned briefly on a front page of the 1970 Vega Martin catalogue, and it retailed for $490 in the VM price list of 1971. From the BRC, Barry. Be safe, be well, keep on picking. Its always inspiring to see someone so dedicated to their craft! Martin students believe that it was a market ploy to attract owners of the legendary Martin D-45 guitar to purchase a partner banjo, but the strategy did not succeed. The 1968 Vega catalogue described the Pro II appointments as including a bell brass tone ring with exclusively designed audio apertures, a ten ply wood rim, a three-piece maple neck, a resonator of curly maple, a notched brass tension hoop, nickel-plated hardware, and a shaded mahogany finish. Theres barely a mark on the banjo (except for the binding where it was put on a stand) and this will probably buff out. Your T-2 instrument SN 1603 was one of five Tu-Ba-Phone 5 string banjos manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1976 shortly before the big luthier strike that compelled C. F. Martin to ship parts overseas for assembly. It listed for $1310 in the 1971 VM price brochure and a carved heel was extra. A few months later, the old six digit number system was replaced with new sequence starting with #2 and progressing sequentially to a four digit number over the ensuing years. This instrument debuted in 1952, and featured a single cutaway body, a distinctive "fire stripe" tortoiseshell pickguard, and a pair of thin blade-style pickups . 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. Your 5-stringer was one of seven V-76E instruments manufactured per Shop Order 2310, and the `E` designation indicates that these seven banjos were made for employees. Although C.F. 2 Tu-Ba-Phone model which is part of an historic production series started in the 1920`s in Boston, continued in Nazareth, PA, and sustained today by Deering in Spring Valley, CA. vega banjo identification - americanuzbekistan.org Original MRSP $1310 without case (carved neck was also extra). The serial # is 448. Do you know anything of the type of banjo, year of manufacturing and value today? It originally came with an arm rest, rotomatic tuning pegs, and a plastic head. Save on our most popular Goodtime banjos - the Goodtime openback and the Goodtime Two - at your favorite Deering dealer today! Martin markings, my impression is that it was put together overseas from left-over Martin parts after the Asian conglomerate Galaxy Trading purchased the Vega brand in 1979. 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 bouffant scrub cap pattern. The Vega Vox model was a 4 string gem that featured a brass tone ring. rocket and teresa administrative leave; Vega Martin SN 1199 is one of five VIP-T (tenor) banjos made per shop order # 2233 in late 1974 in Nazareth, PA. Fingerboard engraved pearl inlays in the ebony were going through a transition (modernization) as well, from very elaborate designs that they used since the 1920s to to simplified block styles. 96.90 postage. It`s a sweet long neck, and I wish I had one. Your banjo may be a hybrid from that era. Rochester NY 14610. The parts of your VIP-5 (Very Important Player) banjo # 130056 were probably manufactured in Massachusetts and assembled in Pennsylvania with a yellow data sticker on the inside rim and maybe C.F. Thereafter, C. F. Martin installed a serial number decal on the inner rim beginning with #2 and on through #1945. According to the C.F. 1969, probably initially at the 40 Leon Street factory the Needham Heights (just before the sale to Martin). Your description of your FR-5 sounds like you have a genuine Boston-made Folk Ranger. 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. Replyfrom our Vega Vox scholar Dr. RonHi Ernie. cscl star vessel flag autism and narcissism differences. They are 230, 243, 353, LVII (57?) Typically, the number would be preceded with an A (indicating an adjustable truss rod) followed by a six-digit number. What is it worth today, and what did it sell for when new? It has the famous Vega `Tu-Ba-Phone` tone ring and notched tension hoop both made of bell brass, an ebony fingerboard, and a 10 ply maple rim. safety tips; prohibited items; product recalls; The C.F. $5000 would be a reasonable number if in good conditionit could have brought $7500 a few years ago. Barry. All original except the tailpiece cracked at the bend not long after I got it, and I replaced it with the Stew-Mac version. March 13, 2017 at 3:46 pmRob- Thank you for your query and very kind comments about the BRC website. Maybe, the R-D prefix stands for Research and Development. Barry- Thanks for your queries and subsequent photos that promt me to revise my initial response. Plectrum means a 4-string model with 22 frets, which is longer scale (27) than the 19 fret 4-string tenor (23). Bob. Nowadays, the Pro-5 would fetch around $1000-$1500 depending on condition. C.F. Your VW-5 resonator banjo is not to be confused with its cousin the open back FW-5 model Folk Wonder which retailed for $280. In my files, the PS-5 model first appears in a 1961 Vega product flyer from Boston, but it may have been manufactured there starting in 1958. 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. Neck and rim look a lot like made by Martin craftsmen, and it arrived set up perfectly. 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. My estimate is that your VIP-T would likely fetch in the $700-1100 range these days, and maybe a little more, depending on condition and special appointments. Barry. Martin factory in Nazareth, PA, parts were shipped overseas to Japan and Canada for assembly. It has no rod in the drum. This is a beautiful banjo! Galaxy went bankrupt around 1984 and vanished. Tim, Tim- Thanks much for your query. it has five strings and if you would be so kind let me know something about it and if someone you know wants to play it, I guess it would be better off with them; or I will go take lessons I suppose. Landis- Thanks for your post. Thank-you for your kind words about my website, and all blessings to you and yours this coming holiday season. William- Thanks for your post. Thank you for all the information. 7. A total of 98 model D-76E guitars were also made for employees. In 1970, C.F. Kay Musical Instrument Company - Wikipedia

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