Hope this helps, and I am sending you the circa 1978 C. F. Martin Tubaphone model promotional flyer . Martin made 76 commemorative V-76 banjos in 1976 to celebrated the bicentennial of the USA. Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb ! - Vintage Vega #2 Gp No markings saying Martin but looks identical to fancy ones I saw in an old Martin sales flyer. Jim _Thanks for your query. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. 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). I dont know much about banjos because Im a guitar man myself. Hey, Ive got a Martin Vega Tubaphone 5 string banjo sn# 1603 that I acquired in the mid-1980s. The VIP-T is a nice mid range banjo model, and I have a VIP-5 which has a pleasant mid range tonal response. The V-45 appears on the cover of the 1972 catalogue, and it was billed as our finest Bluegrass banjo in the 1976 catalogue. 219203099161mmDA107 , . It is number E-5 in a limited edition of 16 instruments made in 1976. 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. Vega Short Scale 4 string banjo neck model? - Mandolin Cafe The rim is 10 ply maple with a top metal tone ring, nickel-plated metal parts, and a shaded mahogany finish. Photos , BRC Replies To Samantha (November 23, 2019), Reply From Dr. Ron (the BRC Vega Vox/EddiePeabody consultant). John- Thank-you for the detailed photos. Flanked by interactive faculty at a northeastern banjo camp, the BRC founderproudly shows-off his Vega VIP banjo built in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in 1975. Only 101 model PS-5 banjos were made by C.F. Roger- Thanks much for your query. Thanks for the great information on this page. Thanks for the photo of your Vega/Martin Pro-5 banjo. 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. Like my dad, I am a musician and physician and treasure his professional and avocational memorabilia. . These were followed by banjos #9-14 which were Vega Vox-4-P plectrums per Shop Order 2088. cscl star vessel flag autism and narcissism differences. What Does My Banjo's Serial Number Tell Me? - Deering Banjo Company Martin and Co., Est. From the BRC, Barry. Martin V740 Strings Vega strun banjo 5-strunowego RETRO 10-23,10 Barry. P.S. 2 for $4149. Rochester NY 14610. Martin historian Mike Longworth. Vega Tenor Banjo Serial Numbers - evertx Its paper label says it was made by Vega of Boston, part of the CF Martin Co. but it does not have the CF Martin decal on the back of the peg-head. The rim and shoe screws/washer are likely homemade/cut down and tone ring is not Galaxy stock, but more of a Gibson knockoff. The majority of the banjoists appear to be holding examples of the regular Vega electric banjos with dot-inlayed fingerboards and dark wood veneered pegheads. Im just getting back into my love of music. I bought a Vega Martin 5 string some time in 2000. Ending Thursday at 9:33PM GMT 2d 23h. Thank you so very much for this information! Of note, banjo SN 136 manufactured in 1972 was a Vega Vox I plectrum and not a 5-stringer like yours. 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. safety tips; prohibited items; product recalls; The only serial number is 1120. 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. March 13, 2017 at 3:46 pmRob- Thank you for your query and very kind comments about the BRC website. The tone ring holes are grouped in sets of three rather than equally spaced as on a tubaphone ring. 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. post . So heres my question. It is important to note that there are exceptions to every rule and the following is only a general guide for identifying Gibson "A" Style mandolins. All the best pickin`, and thanks for your kind words about my website. All of these extra upgrades were reportedly worth an additional $1000 at the time. The Galaxy serial number is not a continuum of the Martin serial number sequence. 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. Thank-you for your kind words about my website, and all blessings to you and yours this coming holiday season. Vega style k mandolin banjo Heres a link to a .zip file you can download. Your banjo is an off shoot of the classic No. Martin in Nazareth, PA, in 1973. Hello, I just stumbled onto this site today 4/16/20. 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. Martin initiated its own serial number system in early 1972 which ran sequentially from #2 through #1945. Other Banjo-Related Topics Collector's Corner ARCHIVED TOPIC: Vega banjo identification Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. Martin manufactured 100 Pro-5 banjos including the temporary Bobby Joe Fenster variation. Im not very knowledgable about banjos so please forgive my terminology. The V-45(5) featured a heavy one-piece flat head tone ring of brass so popular among Bluegrass pickers. 403.80. My estimate is that the banjo might be worth $500-$700 depending on condition. Congratulations on having two vintage VM banjos, and your gracious comments about the Info site are much appreciated. Your VM-5 Wonder banjo SN 720 was manufactured in 1973 per Shop Order 2181. It did not have a tone ring or simply a steel ring like the Wonder, to keep the cost down. Barry. Vega Banjos for Sale, New and Used - banjobarn.com Below are more Letters from the BRC Archives. I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . Martin upgraded the maple rim to 10 ply after purchasing the Vega/Boston franchise in May of 1970. brian kim, cpa clearvalue tax net worth . I tried to find your email address at your Banjo homepage without any success. In the Vega Martin price list of 1971, the last publication in which VM retail prices were cited, the VM-5 was listed at $345 without case. Please try again. My estimate would in the neighborhood of $1.5K depending on condition. Andreas- Thank you for the historical narrative on your banjo and the detailed photographs. Martin built only 20 F-VIP 5 stringers, and to my count 11 were made in Pennsylvania per the shop log book. Be safe, be well, keep on picking. The label on the peg head reads Martin & Co and inside the rim reads Martin & Co and the number 993. After Martin purchased Vega in 1970, the factory transitioned from Needham Heights to Nazareth, PA. Check Price at Amazon. Vega Banjo Serial Numbers - cleverapex Barry- Thanks for your queries and subsequent photos that promt me to revise my initial response. Photos are available. The earliest reported is F&C #1000. Location. I have 2 Martin Vegas. Vega Banjos for Sale, New and Used Search Agent: Get notified when new ads meet your criteria! tone ring that you have. I also did replace all of the cheapish plastic knobs with ivoroid ones of much better quality. Martin era. We've been notified and are looking into it. 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. An example of one of these 4-stringers from the 1920`s is still in the C.F. Nowadays, the Pro-5 would fetch around $1000-$1500 depending on condition. 96.90 postage. nike nationals track and field backpack; 0 comments. It listed for $1310 in the 1971 VM price brochure and a carved heel was extra. fender american professional ii vs ultra. This design of banjo retailed for $285 back then, and it was popularized by Erik Darling and Pete Seegar (who had his own Vega endorsed model for awhile). The Wonder series of instruments featured a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a heavy notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, a 3 piece maple neck, a blackwood fingerboard, pearl dots, an armrest, and a factory-installed resonator with four section metal tone flanges. The seller advertised it (in 2016) as verified by BRC made in 1976 in Nazareth. As C.F. gamefowl breeders in texas; 0 comments. The Vega banjos in the TMC catalogue were identified by serial numbers only with no model titles or nicknames. They are 230, 243, 353, LVII (57?) Photos of the banjo might possibly shed some light on the mystery, if you are so inclined. Hopes this helps and thanks again for the detailed pictures. Of course she did a beautiful job with it including turning its blond color into a brunette! I have two Ode long neck banjos, and one of them is my daily practice instrument because of its wife-friendly tone. In the meantime, thanks again for your post. ), though, as said earlier, neck and rim look a lot like Martin quality. Martin did not develop or cultivate such a banjo line, a dozen such BJF-5 entries are recorded in their shop files from 1971-1972. If you want a more Bluegrass sound, try a 5-Star head from Stew Mac. 0 bids $10.96 shipping Ending Oct 14 at 5:44AM PDT5d 4hFrom GermanyBrand: VEGA 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). Hello and thank you so much for your hard work and dedication. Martin did not publish retail prices after 1971, so my guess is that this up scale model sold back then for around $600. From the BRC, Barry. The more affordable V-41-5 banjo was partnered with the D-41 guitar, but this marketing ploy did not work as anticipated for either of the aforementioned guitar/banjo combinations. 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 Serial numbers became unreliable during that era. 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. Can you identify this rare Vega Martin banjo just by the peghead markings? Fender Standard Banjo Hardshell Case Black chuya Both are in wonderful condition. They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. Bob- Thank you for your kind words about my website, and I reply with compliments to your luthier shop with which I am familiar. P.S. The Vega No.2 is a banjo made of top grade curly maple stained light amber and buffed to a high gloss. 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. PA. Martin also made 1976 model D-76 guitars to partner the banjo. While the Martin factory in Nazareth, PA, retooled to build banjos, interim yellow stickers were affixed to the inner rims of Boston banjos citing the merger and identifying the model of the instrument (which was inscribed by pen). Deering now owns the Vega brand, and it is rumored that they may revive the deep resonator design. 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. This workshop numbering system continued uninterrupted to #2355 in 1977 when the banjos went overseas for assembly. I have two theories about your instrument. Fairbanks and Vega banjo numbers are consecutive, and have no DIRECT relationship to the model, or production date. This instrument was a special order for banjoist, Jack Mistretta, from Grand Rapids, Michiganwho happened to be a friend of Eddie Peabody. Fairbanks & Cole In addition to the unusual R-D-136 serial number, the C.F. Martin built 55 VIP-T instruments between 1972-79. Vega serial #s between 99369 and 99686, when the switch from the Vega stamp to printed yellow labels seems to have occured. 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 featuring a brass tone ring and ebony fingerboard. 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. 7. vega banjo identification 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. Elite Fiberskyn Banjo Head, 11", High. Im mostly a guitar player. 2 Tu-Ba-Phone XL is seen in the 1976 catalogue. I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . 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. How much Galaxy (or Martin) produce new parts vs. assemble old stock bought from Vega? What is it worth today, and what did it sell for when new? Mike- Thanks for your post and kind remarks about the BRC website. Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb Oops, Something went wrong. Is it possible to tell me what model or style and year it was built also the value? vega banjo identification. 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. If you need photos I can take a few and send them to you on a subsequent time. I think it is a Pro-5. 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. Thanks for your query, Barry. Martin purchased the Vega brand line. Martin acquired Vega. Data from these logbooks are available per e-mail request from the BRC founder. Identifying Vintage Guitars, Banjos & Mandolins - Acoustic Music vega banjo identification - pamelahudson.net The Vega Vox model was a 4 string gem that featured a brass tone ring. A sticker inside says The Vega Co. Boston 15, MASS, Patended USA The serial number is A-125394. In the meantime, keep on pickin` that Pro-5. TH, Tom- Thanks for your query. I am a fan of the 27 scale and believe it has much to contribute tone-wise. The VIP banjo last appeared in the 1976 VM catalog as an open back instrument but still featuring the V.I.P. The rare T-2 and T-2XL had serial numbers in the #1607-1945 range. VEGA Banjos for sale | eBay Deering purchased the Vega franchise in1989 restoring the line to greatness. 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 A total of 98 model D-76E guitars were also made for employees. In your e-mail, you mention being told when acquiring the instrument that it was a prototype design. Its mostly been in storage since I purchased it in the late 1970s. VINTAGE VEGA TENOR BANJO, 1930, RESONATOR, 19 FRET, CLEAN. port melbourne players; fair lawn high school graduation; vega banjo identification; By . Cobra hooks first appear circa 1881 on Fairbanks & Cole banjos. 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. Kudos to Greg Deering who rescued the Vega brand name from extinction in 1989 and restored it to greatness. They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. I will trade for a good Octave Mandolin or Bouzouki There are 13 stars on the banjo fretboard, and there should be a plaque on the back of the headstock. Just found you today . 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. Guess I stated it wrong, not really carvings, just in lays. Ive got a couple of pictures in case of interest, but Id need a mail-address for sending, me supposing. 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. 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. It retailed for $775 and was probably assembled from parts left over from Nazareth, PA. best of . Because so few Pro-5`s were manufactured in Nazareth, it is difficult to gauge the worth of your banjo these days. . The banjo had a 3 piece maple neck and a signature tubaphone tone ring clearly shown in the pictures that you provided. From the BRC, Barry, Barry, i have an extended neck (25 fretts) Vega/Martin banjo with a serial number of 80. Martin D-45 guitar. The metal parts were gold plated and engraved. Martin workshop logbook, open back Tu-Ba-Phone 5-string banjo SN 1707 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1976. Banjoman- C.F. 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. 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. Your VW-5 would fetch $700-$1000 these days. Device Search - VEGA The melody banjo was the equivalent of a 4 string mandolin banjo. Hope this helps and all the best in 2019, Barry. CL. 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. According to the C.F. Martin decal photographed on the back of the VIP Vega peg head. Of historical interest, when Martin initiated its own four digit serial number system in 1972 to replace the Vega six digit system, banjos SN 2-5 were the V-45(5) model. I knew nothing about it until I found this site. These three top-of-the-line instruments were sent to Japan for assembly. Both the VW-5 and FW-5 appear in the 1961 Vega ((155 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA) catalogue but featuring a 5 ply rim in the early design. 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 Micky- Thanks for your narrative on your Pete Seeger long neck. Let me know if you might have any questionsI really appreciate the work youre doing here. When C.F. Im hoping I can find a V41 pot. Thank you so much!! C.F. I bought it in Stockholm, Sweden as a student, so it was not so expensive, as i remembered. Barry. set of identifying characteristics can be found at http://www.mugwumps.com. The Vega Vox IV of that era featured burnished gold-plated parts, engraved flanges, an all white pyralin deep resonator with elaborately engraved back and sides, a fretboard with fancy pearl inlays, and an engraved and colored scroll shaped peg head. There is a star on the 5th fret. thanks for your help and keep up the good work. I purchased the instrument from a private dealer (Kingsport, TN) for $800. Banjos were simply stamped 'The Vega Company' From 1913, the firm started using style designations instead of names: * The banjorine (or banjeaurine) was a 5 string banjo, but with a shorter neck like a banjolin It would have been around this time that Tenor Banjos first appeared, as the Tango craze hit America between 1910 and 1914. The banjo is featuring an interesting mix of particulars: The connecting rods are of the (much earlier?) The banjo features a rim and resonator rosewood veneered with white binding, The tone ring was brass, and there was abalone pearl around the back edge of the resonator. Look for decals and a serial number on the interior of the rim to help document its story. vega banjo identification 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. "F" Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. On the neck, there usually should be a pencil written serial number at theheel where it meets the rim (at least all my Martins have one there). It look and plays great. I really appreciate your orientation. In regards to the endorsed banjo models cited in your final paragraph, my files show that the Sonny Osborne model appears only in the 1968 Vega/Boston catalogue. Can`t find anything about it on line. Vintage Banjos for sale | eBay Martin, and the line was discontinued in 1975. 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. 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). Barry. I have two 1930 Vegaphones and an earlier Tubaphone conversion, and this VIP is certainly able to hold up its weight tone wise. $260 USD. 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 1971 Vega Martin price listed this model to retail at $556 without case. The PS-5 is not seen in the 1976 Vega Martin catalog but is replaced by the No. Yes, the VVI banjos have the same inlay pattern as the VM Pro (Professional) 5 string model. 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. He uses the one piece neck design typical of the other Deering models with the SN stamped on the back of the peghead.
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