vega banjo identification. Still as wonderful as the day I got it. Barry, I have purchased a Martin Vega V-45 described as 1971 production and a serial number of #327. Further investigation related to your comments in the abovefirst paragraph might shed some light on the wood tone finish differences. Used 5-String Open-Back Banjos | Intermountain Guitar & Banjo CL. Id like to echo previous comments and thank you for a great, great website, chock full of useful information. The fascinatingwooden pie (sectioned) resonator is probably inherited from the Boston era Vega inventory. 1833 decal is absent from the inner rim. Hope this helps and thanks for your post. Martin and Co., Est. Kay Musical Instrument Company - Wikipedia thanks for your help and keep up the good work. Ive taken a number of hi-res photostoo many to attach to email. Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. No M130097 Model: Wonder 5 St. The story of how Greg Deering came to own the 130 year old Vega trademark is one of childhood dreams and an unmissable opportunity. From the BRC, Barry. A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Regent" 5-string banjo, S/N 25121, Circa 1909 A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Tubaphone" #9, 5-string banjo, S/N 25516, Circa 1909 . 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. Your Vega Martin instrument SN 231 is a Wonder model VW-P (plectrum ) 4 stringer made in Nazareth in late 1972 per Shop Order #2121 just after production was transferred from Boston to the re-tooled Pennsylvania factory. The only serial number is 1120. 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. It listed for $1310 in the 1971 VM price brochure and a carved heel was extra. In recent years, Deeringrecreated andmarkets its ownVega Professional 4-stringer model with a classic wooden pie sectioned resonator. I got an old Vega banjo from my father. Ernie Ball 5-String Medium Stainless Steel Banjo Strings, 10-10 Gauge (P02309) Check Price at Amazon. From the BRC site this banjo was made circa 1975-1976 in and around Nazareth PA. Do I have the have the provenance correct? And recently I installed a new Elite head, which made a wonderful difference. It looks like the banjo is in ok/decent condition. Im happy to find Banjorehab as it is the first site Ive seen to have useful information on Vega-Martin banjos. Thanks you for this great site. Anders- Thanks for your query. I really appreciate your orientation. Martin V720 Vega Steel/Nickel Banjo Strings - .009-.030 - Sweetwater Your peghead and resonator are clearly marked with C.F. The Vega No.2 is a banjo made of top grade curly maple stained light amber and buffed to a high gloss. It is not seen in the 1970 transitional Vega/Martin catalogue. I cannot find any pictures remotely close online. There are 13 stars on the banjo fretboard, and there should be a plaque on the back of the headstock. Linda- Thanks much for your query and hearing about your three vintage banjos. I cant remember exactly when I bought it but I think it was around the early 70s. Roger- Thanks for your challenging follow-up query. 7. Your VW-5 resonator banjo is not to be confused with its cousin the open back FW-5 model Folk Wonder which retailed for $280. A previous owner had deeply scratched a Social Security number into its heel. Despite its puzzling serial number, your instrument is a Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe 5-string. S.C.- Thank you for your query to the BRC. Vega - Elderly Instruments Martin Company acquired the Vega rights from the Bostonian Nelson Family in May of 1970 and sold the franchise overseas in March of 1979. Im now forced to sell several beloved instruments but have no idea how to price this gem. Fairbanks & Cole The local music store said they would give her 120$ for it. A total of 101 PS-5 instruments were manufactured in Pennsylvania. Retail price was $1300.00 ; I paid $900.00 . Thank you for all the information. Im hoping I can find a V41 pot. Allen screws at the neck/pot junction and a tube connecting rod (not shown) are design features from the 1960`s in Boston . I think it is a Pro-5. From the BRC, Barry. Nowadays, the Pro-5 would fetch around $1000-$1500 depending on condition. John, John- Thank you much for your kind words about my website and letting my readers share in your joy of procuring a VM Pete Seeger long neck 5-stringer (PS-5). The C.F. It has the original hardshell case also with no markings. From the BRC, Barry, Only a handful of Martin/Vega banjos made it down to Australia. I had Renee Karnes carve the heel with a VV flower and leaf design to get rid of the SS #. Hello, I just stumbled onto this site today 4/16/20. This banjo was made by the Vega Company in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1922. In excellent condition and ready to play. TMC marketed this standard neck Tu-Ba-Phone banjoas item No. Item # 9126. 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. The differentiating feature is the deeper resonator than the VIP/Pro II/Osborne/Scruggs Mk II/Bobby Joe Fenster standard resonator modelsnot quite as deep as the Vox and not top tension (standard hook and nut with Pro II flanges). Not quite as universally imitated as, say, Stradivari's violins or Martin's dreadnought guitars, but close. The `Martin Guitars: A Technical Reference` confirms that the BJF-5 banjo was a thinly disguised Pro-5 not unlike yours . June 7, 2022; homes for sale by owner in berwick, pa . !Gary, Gary- Thanks for your query. 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. Maybe, the R-D prefix stands for Research and Development. Martin upgraded the maple rim to 10 ply after purchasing the Vega/Boston franchise in May of 1970. I would love some photos of your V-45 to upload with this post. The open back Folk Wonder 5-stringer does not appear in the 1976 Vega/Martin catalogue where the Vega Wonder resonator series is still advertised. When C.F. 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. Both of these models had block mother of pearl inlays, with fewer inlays appearing on the new scaled-down Pro fretboard. This instrument was a special order for banjoist, Jack Mistretta, from Grand Rapids, Michiganwho happened to be a friend of Eddie Peabody. The serial number is stamped in the wooden rim below the Martin decal. SOLD Vega Earl Scruggs Banjo and Original hard case Price: $695.00 USD a 1969 Earl Scruggs on rim inside :TRB 13746 . I am a fan of the 27 scale and believe it has much to contribute tone-wise. About 20 years ago I had it re-fretted , re-finished , and the gold re-plated . Can`t find anything about it on line. I have a seperate label thats still in the case showing the serial # 1199. Great Savings & Free Delivery / Collection on many items. brian kim, cpa clearvalue tax net worth . He is credited with being one of the first banjo-builders to install side brackets with hooks to adjust the tension of the head. vega banjo identification. The circa 1978 brochure that I sent you confirms that your instrument is a Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe 5 stringer. These were used on the Wonder, VIP,Folklore, etc (non-Pro II, V-45, V-41 styles). 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. Dear Per- In May of 1970, C.F. After Martin sold the Vega line to Galaxy in 1979, this generic mother of pearl pattern remained the same in the VIP model but had double-stripe engraving on it. 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. Martin manufactured only 33 VW-plectrum banjos. 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 2 Tu-Ba-Phone XL long neck premieres instead. Martin purchased the Vega brand and briefly marketed the so-called Bobby Joe Fenster banjo which was a thinly disguised Pro-5 endorsed by a fictitious banjoist as a somewhat mirthful marketing ploy. Wow, I glad to find your website! To unravel most of the curious mystery of the legendary Bobby Joe Fenster, please scroll back to the Sept. 12, 2014 homepage posting devoted to this interesting figure from the annals of Vega Martin banjo history, or just enter fenster in the search engine on the home page. The rich heritage of Vega was derelict for 5 years until Deering rescued it by acquiring rights to the brand name in 1989. Martin in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in mid 1974 per Shop Order #2217. Serial numbers became unreliable during that era. It is a Vega Martin model VW-5 called a Vega Wonder and sometimes referred to as the Wonder-5. I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . Home; Meet Darlene; ISI Mission; What is Coaching? Your mellowed 1963 SR-5 sold for $400 in the 1963 Vega catalogue, and it was advertised to feature a brilliant tone back then. I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . 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 back of the peghead of these rare banjos is imprinted with a C.F. A couple of years ago I started to develop increased interest in clawhammer style, and with all the lessons available online nowadays, finally Im finding myself back on the tracks. The Vega Company reportedlyintroduced the first wooden sectioned pie resonator in mid 1923 for their Vega Professional 4-stringer. The label on the peg head reads Martin & Co and inside the rim reads Martin & Co and the number 993. The Pro-5 does not appear in the 1976 Vega Martin catalogue. The ebony fingerboard was on a mahogany neck, and a butterfly adorns the back of the resonator. The Vega Regent is one of the classic 5-string banjos of the Vega line. I have an ornate 5 string Martin Vega banjo with pie-plate style resonator. All the best, Barry. safety tips; prohibited items; product recalls; 3, Serial #50232, with a patented brass top hoop and bracket band over a seven-lap sectional maple hoop, 28 brackets, mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard with22 frets and inlaid pearloid dots and star position marks, carved heel, peghead with flowerpot inlay . Martin made 101 of the PS-5 instruments which listed for $488 without case in the final V/M price list in 1971. The C.F. 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. The flanges, tension hoop, tailpiece and extended armrest are deeply and elaborately engraved, and were originally finished in a special hardened 24K gold electroplate. Deering rescued the Vega line by purchasing the brand name in 1989. 22 frets. I have a Martin Vega Banjo, #324. The Vega White Oak Banjo is ideal for achieving the classic clawhammer and folk, with bright tone and distinct note clarity and weighs less than 6 lbs! Whenever parts are sent overseas, it is unpredictable if instruments are constructed fastidiously with matching parts, and this may explain the difference in tone between your two VIP instruments. Check Price at Amazon. 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. Resale prices for this type of banjo vary widely from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars depending on unique features. Do you know anything of the type of banjo, year of manufacturing and value today? How much Galaxy (or Martin) produce new parts vs. assemble old stock bought from Vega? Vega Banjos Serial Numbers - spheregenerous Thanks from all of us! 1969, probably initially at the 40 Leon Street factory the Needham Heights (just before the sale to Martin). The Vega era PS-5 banjos sell for up to $3-4K these days. The banjo is featuring an interesting mix of particulars: The connecting rods are of the (much earlier?) They all had yellow serial number stickers. 2 classic model. Deering owns the Vega brand name nowadays, and its T-2 lists for $4149. Hit a few licks on the tenor- you might find that you like it. The two legendary musicians in the camp photo are banjo godfather Tony Trischka and Grammy award winner Eric Weissberg. I remember seeing a brand new tenor Vox I in a musicstore in late 1973/early 1974 that already had the rosewood cap (memorablefor me as a kid and thought it odd, when compared to the 1972 catalog; aWonder or Ranger were also in the store from Needham Heights and were stillblackened). Each of the men is posed in front of a Vega model 131 amplifier, identical to the unit which remains with the banjo today. 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. PA. Martin Museum collection. The Vega Ultra Vox V is among the rarest of the limited, special order edition banjos made by either Vega of Boston or Martin. This uniquestyle resonator was verypopular for many years, and it still hasvalue as a vintage part. Its a Vega VIP with the Martin Co. logo on the back of the peg head. With appreciation, Barry. JC 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. Your 5-stringer serial #993 is one of six Pro-5`s manufactured per Shop Order # 2211 in mid 1974 by C.F. The beautiful Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe and its plectrum and open back permutations appear only in a 3 page marketing pamphlet issued by C.F. Retail price was $1300.00 ; I paid $900.00 . Thanks so much! The banjo featured a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a heavy notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, geared tuning pegs, a 3 piece maple neck, blackwood fingerboard, pearl dots, a resonator, an arm rest, nickel plated parts, and a shaded mahogany finish. Vega Martin SN 1199 is one of five VIP-T (tenor) banjos made per shop order # 2233 in late 1974 in Nazareth, PA. Hi guys, great website. Vega Banjo Identification - azgardcn You banjo parts were probably shipped in 1977 to Japan for assembly where all serial number assignments were in disarray. Martin built only 101 PS-5 long necks. 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. Elite Fiberskyn Banjo Head, 11", High. Thank you very much for your quick answer. Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb Oops, Something went wrong. Hopes this helps. It is number E-5 in a limited edition of 16 instruments made in 1976. 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. However, its a beautifully crafted banjo with a great sound. The tailpiece does not look original, but the dual connecting rods are typical of the Martin design. Replyfrom our Vega Vox scholar Dr. RonHi Ernie. It appears in the transitional Vega/Martin product list of 1970 and lastly in the 1972 Vega Banjo Catalog (The CF Martin Organization). Subject: Help with ID of Vega Banjo please. The `41` engraved on the tailpiece no doubt refers to the model V-41 designation. 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. Again, thank youmuchfor your post. Shop today! C.F. We've been notified and are looking into it. Therefore it became dissembled. aluminum variety, one slim one large, with the larger one closer to the head. 5. Excellent condition. 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. The Vega serial number files still available do not specify the specific models of banjo manufactured in Massachusetts. The earliest reported is F&C #1000. Device Search - VEGA 2 Vega banjo from the early Boston era. P.S. After the difficult 1977 luthier strike at the C.F. Fred- Thank you for the detailed photos of your instrument. They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. post . Im assuming this is the serial number, which would put me right next to Mark, who owned #888 in previous comment 6.