After a loooong wait I finally got it in 1971 . Do you know how many tenor V41 banjos were made? Hope this helps and thanks again for your post. Vega Kingston Trio Tom Dooley Long Neck Banjo, Vega Kingston Trio - Bob Shane Plectrum Banjo, Reutschi | Kruger Bell Bronze Tone Ring(Unplated). This email will be copied to my Vega Vox scholar Dr. Ron for his insights and comments.From the BRC, Barry. How much would it be worth? It retailed for $345 in the 1971 Vega Martin price list. Your PS-5 Pete Seeger long neck # M-130259 was assembled in Nazareth in early 1971 per Shop Order 2012. 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. 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). Martin purchased the Vega brand line. Guess I stated it wrong, not really carvings, just in lays. It took me six months to finally commit to purchasing the Vega-Martin VIP that I brought home today from a local music shop. After Martin purchased Vega in 1970, the factory transitioned from Needham Heights to Nazareth, PA. If it has a wooden pot resonator, remove it and check the inner rim for identifiers. Id like to echo previous comments and thank you for a great, great website, chock full of useful information. The tonering, bracket band, and notched tension hoop were all made of vibrant bell brass (Not die cast metal). 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 . 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 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. Barry. With hard case. Bob- Thank you for your kind words about my website, and I reply with compliments to your luthier shop with which I am familiar. The description of your banjo serial number 916 is curious, and I will offer my theory about the instrument per the information given. The tiny screws adjacent to it are an adaptation by the Vega franchise to afford fine-tuning of the side-to-side alignment of the neck. VINTAGE VEGA TENOR BANJO, 1930, RESONATOR, 19 FRET, CLEAN. I call him Rory, although much louder he has a beautiful rich tone, but is quite punchy.. Thanks for letting us see this fascinating and unique instrument. Where is the serial number on a Vega banjo? - chroniclesdengen.com 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. sir- need some help. (#26) Dr. Ron about " Vega Vox V: The Vega Martin Apogee of 4 String Banjos", A Lone (Pre Vega Martin ) Banjo at the Art Museum, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14ES67V1VHbMR-GfbQpvWWGD1RUJrtyTv?usp=sharing. It is not seen in the 1970 transitional Vega/Martin catalogue. Its also featuring the two small hexagon bolts inside the rim (Quite handy for fine-centering the neck! I have found it helpful over the years. Best of luck and thanks for your query, Barry. The Vega line was then marketed in the USA by TMC Company (Targ & Dinner 20 Century Music Company). Thanks! Congratulations on having two vintage VM banjos, and your gracious comments about the Info site are much appreciated. Martin stamp. brian kim, cpa clearvalue tax net worth . C.F. The Vega No.2 is a banjo made of top grade curly maple stained light amber and buffed to a high gloss. 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). I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . It listed back then for $345 without to BRCcase. Barry, I have purchased a Martin Vega V-45 described as 1971 production and a serial number of #327. Thanks again for your query. The VIP-T is a nice mid range banjo model, and I have a VIP-5 which has a pleasant mid range tonal response. Martin made 76 commemorative V-76 banjos in 1976 to celebrated the bicentennial of the USA. Could you tell me where it was built and what its value is today ? 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. The Voxes have endured a bit more that others in the market place, however. Andreas- Thank you for the historical narrative on your banjo and the detailed photographs. Your banjo is an off shoot of the classic No. . Martin began shipping parts overseas for assembly. 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. 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. Deering purchased the Vega franchise in1989 restoring the line to greatness. The last one was produced in early 1975 despite being their very first banjo made that year. 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 . Prices subject to change without notice. He was told that it was made by Martin, but I do not find any Martin labels. 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. Hope this helps and thanks again for your post and e-mails, Barry, Lynne- Thanks for your query. 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. Again, thanks for your post. vega banjo identification 219203099161mmDA107 , . Hope this helps, and I am sending you the circa 1978 C. F. Martin Tubaphone model promotional flyer . Martin sold the Vega brand to the Asian conglomerate Galaxy Trading Company in March of 1979. I have 2 Martin Vegas. Item # 9126. 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. The smaller one has 2 small set screws installed on either side of the rod to adjust the neck heel . Your tenor 4-stringer was built in early 1972 per Shop Order 2051. Serial # 1795. 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! Hope this helps, and all the best picking, Barry. FREE SHIPPING! Of note, when the Professional 5-stringer was made in Boston in the early 1960`s, it had square MOP inlays with dots on the neck compared to the nicely designed inlays on your fretboard and seen in the 1966 catalogue. 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). Theres barely a mark on the banjo (except for the binding where it was put on a stand) and this will probably buff out. Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb Serial number 115831 on a yellow strip built in Boston Mass.Wondering when it might have been built? post id: 7593773670. posted: 2023-02-27 00:34. What is a spectrum banjo? It did not have a tone ring or simply a steel ring like the Wonder, to keep the cost down. Thanks for your very kind words about the BRC website. A total of 98 model D-76E guitars were also made for employees. In the meantime, keep on pickin` that Pro-5. My estimate is that it might fetch $1800-2000 these days. Banjoman- C.F. 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 would appreciate it very much. Thanks for your post. From the BRC, Barry. March 13, 2017 at 3:46 pmRob- Thank you for your query and very kind comments about the BRC website. In PACTware software. Vega Banjo Identification - azgardcn In the 1972 Martin catalogue, the Professional appears identical to yours, but it is absent from the 1976 catalogue. Dr. Ron- the BRC staff and readers appreciate all the wonderful details and photos. Hope this helps. The retail price for this banjo in the 1970 catalogue was $488 without case, and Martin did not published price lists after 1971. I would be grateful if you could inform me when it was made. Martin & Co. Organisation, NEEDHAM, MASS. It is a beauty. The Vega serial number files still available do not specify the specific models of banjo manufactured in Massachusetts. No markings saying Martin but looks identical to fancy ones I saw in an old Martin sales flyer. 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 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. Vega #2 | Genuine Brass Tubaphone Tone Ring | Banjo.com The story of how Greg Deering came to own the 130 year old Vega trademark is one of childhood dreams and an unmissable opportunity. How do you date a banjo? Im happy to find Banjorehab as it is the first site Ive seen to have useful information on Vega-Martin banjos. Your banjo is item # VB120C which sold for $360 back then. The V-41 was available by special order only, and it listed back then for $850. Have a restful weekend and be well, Barry. How much Galaxy (or Martin) produce new parts vs. assemble old stock bought from Vega? Vega Banjos - The Mandolin Pages TH, Tom- Thanks for your query. The earliest reported is F&C #1000. 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 will trade for a good Octave Mandolin or Bouzouki Most likely, your banjo has a paddle peghead still with Kluson tuners, block MOP engraved fingerboard inlays, and an updated resonator design with black bindings and a fleur-de-lis added under the engraved star De-Luxe Vegavox on the back (brand new on the 1963-model). 7. The Eddie Peabody Model was actually made by Vega of Boston from 1966-ca. Categories . Fairbanks & Vega banjos, Dating & Identifying - Mugwumps My estimate is that the banjo might be worth $500-$700 depending on condition. Galaxy went bankrupt around 1984 and vanished. They all had yellow serial number stickers. Vega banjos were marketed in the US thereafter by TMC (Targ & Dinner 20 Century Music Company) via a catalogue published in May of 1979. Thank you, Barry, for the information that allow me to buy this banjo with serenity.VIVE le BANJO and the banjo players! 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. GREAT FORUM. It first appeared in 1923 and was also the first Vega with the scrambled eggs inlay and the Vega name in the headstock.Although the Vegaphone is supposed to have a maple neck - and the tenors do, most Vegaphone plectrums have surplus Tubaphone Style 3 necks in mahogany with carved heels. I would love some photos of your V-45 to upload with this post. The banjo had a 3 piece maple neck and a signature tubaphone tone ring clearly shown in the pictures that you provided. If you want a more Bluegrass sound, try a 5-Star head from Stew Mac. It looks like a well-preserved and fun mid range banjo waiting to be enjoyed by an appreciative musician like yourself. Its mostly been in storage since I purchased it in the late 1970s. 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. For example: 0534599-7362 would be a banjo from May of 1999. Barry. As your banjo bears no 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. As Barry indicates, a photo of the yellow sticker will be helpful here. Martin, and the line was discontinued in 1975. So heres my question. With appreciation, Barry, S.C.-Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your banjo. tone ring that you have. This is a beautiful banjo! my Martin/Vega PS5 #481 is about a month into my possession. The larger connecting rod inside the pot is a spare part inherited from the Boston days of the Vega company. Do you know how many Scruggs or Scruggs Soloists, and Sonny Osborne models were made under the Martin ownership and where made? 2 Vega banjo from the early Boston era. Thank You The tone ring really had me confused! The Item # was VT2NRC. The rhinestones on the flanges, tension bolts, and peghead differ from Peabodys prototype and the later Martin production Vox V models. Martin`s transition from traditional Spanish, Viennese, and Renaissance structural features towards innovating a modern acoustic guitar with a unique cross brace design. Barry. 721 which I have had a number of years. Vega Tu-ba-phone Banjo | National Museum of American History Your mellowed 1963 SR-5 sold for $400 in the 1963 Vega catalogue, and it was advertised to feature a brilliant tone back then. thanks for the very informative web site I told her to leave cause i thought they were taking advantage of her because of her age. Only 101 model PS-5 banjos were made by C.F. The back of the headstock is blank. Let me know if you might have any questionsI really appreciate the work youre doing here. 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. This Vox uses brass (rather than the late model Vega/Martin aluminum) hex nut shoes for the tension bolts, and thinner dual brass coordinator rods (again, instead of aluminum). Martin Company acquired the Vega rights from the Bostonian Nelson Family in May of 1970 and sold the franchise overseas in March of 1979. I have an ornate 5 string Martin Vega banjo with pie-plate style resonator. Greg Deering acquired rights to the Vega brand name in 1989 and restored the banjo line to greatness. Home; Meet Darlene; ISI Mission; What is Coaching? $260 USD. Your Wonder-5 string banjo #(Martin)130097 was made in Boston in early 1971 after C.F. My suggestion would be to take you banjo down to the local hardware store and cobble together a workable thumb screw (some have collars) and washer combination. Then by ink its written Folk Ranger. Thank you so very much for this information! 1969, probably initially at the 40 Leon Street factory the Needham Heights (just before the sale to Martin). Having read the posts above I see that this is most likely not the case! The Vega brand was subsequently sold overseas in 1979. Id love to learn more about it, etc. The fascinatingwooden pie (sectioned) resonator is probably inherited from the Boston era Vega inventory. Hello, I just stumbled onto this site today 4/16/20. 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. Fairbanks Banjos - Serial Numbers and Features by year A sticker inside says The Vega Co. Boston 15, MASS, Patended USA The serial number is A-125394. In the 1970 VM catalogue, the VIP-T banjo retailed for $556, and the hard shell case was $68 extra. 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 My Vega F-VIP #1456 got chosen from the 72 catalogue in spring of 76 in a music shop in Stuttgart / Germany, and was delivered only about ten weeks later. Bill- Thanks for your query. Despite its puzzling serial number, your instrument is a Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe 5-string. The PS-5 is not seen in the 1976 Vega Martin catalog but is replaced by the No. Thanks for the great information on this page. The Vega Regent is one of the classic 5-string banjos of the Vega line. The mahogany neck had an ebony fingerboard with distinctive inlays including the peg head. Your Vega Wonder (VW) plectrum banjo SN 129 was one of six `VW-Plec` 4 string banjos made in Nazareth, PA, by C. F. Martin per Shop Order #2105 in mid 1972. All the best from the BRC, Barry. 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. 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. Is this original? vega banjo identification. Martin made 101 of the PS-5 instruments which listed for $488 without case in the final V/M price list in 1971. Martin manufactured 561 VW-5 banjos but only 124 FW-5 instruments. Hello, I have enjoyed reading your posts on Vega-Martin banjos. Im hoping I can find a V41 pot. Barry, I want to thank you very much for the research on my Vega.
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