A nice banjo- enjoy. GoldTone longneck Banjo - musical instruments - by owner - sale Thanks for your reply. Again, thank youmuchfor your post. my Martin/Vega PS5 #481 is about a month into my possession. Some C.F. Q: At what point did Vega go from ball end to open end bracket nuts? Thank You In my files, the PS-5 is seen in a Vega (Boston) flyer in 1961 where it lists for $309. The Vega brand was subsequently sold overseas in 1979. John- Thank-you for the detailed photos. - 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 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. I have an ornate 5 string Martin Vega banjo with pie-plate style resonator. For Sale - Vega Earl Scruggs Banjo and Original hard case It may have been removed some time before I got it. From the BRC, Barry, Sir: What kind of info can you give me on a V-76E banjo, Ser. Prices subject to change without notice. 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. The Martin log book in Nazareth, PA, begins with #130248 later in 1971. The Pro-5 model had an improved bell brass tone ring (alas, not silver) with exclusively designed audio apertures, a thick 10 ply wood rim, a double-tension neck rod, a notched brass tension hoop, nickel plated parts, a mahogany shaded finish, and white binding. The last one was produced in early 1975 despite being their very first banjo made that year. 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. I have two theories about your instrument. 2 Vega banjo from the early Boston era. What A great and informative site .. The resonator was hand-painted, and fancy engraved pearl inlays adorned the ebony fingerboard. It is a Four-String Banjo, Tu-ba-phone Model No. This banjo was made by the Vega Company in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1922. 1969, probably initially at the 40 Leon Street factory the Needham Heights (just before the sale to Martin). vega banjo identification The last SN from Boston was probably #130049, and the Vega Martin logbook in Nazareth starts with SN 130248. Hope this helps and thanks for your post. How do you date a banjo? I got an old Vega banjo from my father. Thanks you for this great site. The earliest reported is F&C #1000. Inside your device. Martin did not publish suggested retail prices after 1971, but I would estimate the V-76 sold for around $7-800 with case. 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. New and Used Vega Banjos for Sale Search Agent: Get notified when new ads meet your criteria! Isgho Votre ducation notre priorit . Your banjo was manufactured in Pennsylvania in 1976 per Shop Order #2299 just before Martin began to ship parts to Japan for assembly (after which serial numbers became goofy). Martin sold the Vega brand to the Asian conglomerate Galaxy Trading Company in March of 1979. The Voxes have endured a bit more that others in the market place, however. Therefore it became dissembled. I have a vegavox 4 tenor banjo by Martin . aluminum variety, one slim one large, with the larger one closer to the head. I think it is a Pro-5. The serial # is 448. Excellent condition. I bought a Vega Martin 5 string some time in 2000. Martin manufactured 561 VW-5 banjos but only 124 FW-5 instruments. Depending upon condition, it is probably worth somewhere around $750 these days. Linda- Thanks much for your query and hearing about your three vintage banjos. Thanks again for your post. If you had a picture archive, Id be happy to post some pictures. Rob- Thank you for the below photos. Vega Martin SN 1199 is one of five VIP-T (tenor) banjos made per shop order # 2233 in late 1974 in Nazareth, PA. I know this is a Vega Martin site, however maybe you can help me or know of someone who can provide me with more information about my dads Vega banjo.It is a 1951 Vega vox iv plectrum with with s/n 98786.What does the iv mean? Services; vega banjo identification 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. If you need photos I can take a few and send them to you on a subsequent time. Good luck and thanks again for your post. It took me six months to finally commit to purchasing the Vega-Martin VIP that I brought home today from a local music shop. Item # 9126. For reference, the name of the original owner with serial number should be in the Martin Archives. Over a period of several years, the Vega line morphed into a uniquely featured Vega Martin instrument. 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. Thanks for your post. Remo Frosted Top Banjo Head, 11 Inch Diameter, High Crown (1/2 Inch) $19 USD. Barry. Photos of the banjo might possibly shed some light on the mystery, if you are so inclined. C.F. All the best pickin`, and thanks for your kind words about my website. I cant remember exactly when I bought it but I think it was around the early 70s. Your VW-5 would fetch $700-$1000 these days. Your VW-5 model Vega Wonder banjo SN 721 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in late 1973 per Shop Order 2181. Martin purchased the Vega company on May 5, 197O. vega banjo identification sir- need some help. Ive owned one for 30 yrs though I dont play it very well. 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. Thanks so much Ill get back to you if any further questions. post id: 7593773670. posted: 2023-02-27 00:34. Your banjo is item # VB120C which sold for $360 back then. 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. Thats when I decided to modify this rather bluegrassy bright (and plenty of loud) sounding Folk banjo a bit. 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. 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. Not a fancy top-line model, but still built with the typical extremely high quality components and a simple but . It sounds like your banjo is maybe a hybrid made overseas after 1976-1977 when Vega Martin parts were shipped to Japan and later Canada for assembly. wyoming seminary athletic scholarship; Tags . The Vega/Martin PS-5 would probably fetch in the $1000- 2500 range these days depending on appointments and condition, whereas the Vega/Boston Seeger banjo seems to be valued more by collectors and would command a higher price. Jim, Jim -Thanks for your query. C.F. Just found this wonderful site. Can you tell me what year this banjo was made and what my aunt could legitimately ask for it? 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. I am a fan of the 27 scale and believe it has much to contribute tone-wise. In my files, the PS-5 is seen in a Vega (Boston) flyer in 1961 where it lists for $309. Vega #2 | Genuine Brass Tubaphone Tone Ring | Banjo.com The mother of pearl inlay fretboard pattern in your Pro-5 is similar to that found in the popular VIP-5 banjo, but the latter has single-stripe engraving in the mother of pearl. You are so kind to provide this great info to all of us banjo geeks. As Barry indicates, a photo of the yellow sticker will be helpful here. Hope this helps and best wishes from the BRC, Barry, Gary- Thanks for your query. I would appreciate it very much. The tonering, bracket band, and notched tension hoop were all made of vibrant bell brass (Not die cast metal). Vega Banjos - The Mandolin Pages Here's a bit of description on the various models: This was also the case for their mandolin banjo lines. Martin V730 Vega Steel/Nickel Banjo Strings - .010-.023 - Sweetwater I will trade for a good Octave Mandolin or Bouzouki A previous owner had deeply scratched a Social Security number into its heel. Best of luck and thanks for your query, Barry. It retailed for $345 in the 1971 Vega Martin price list. Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb Oops, Something went wrong. 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. The Vega Company reportedlyintroduced the first wooden sectioned pie resonator in mid 1923 for their Vega Professional 4-stringer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I also did replace all of the cheapish plastic knobs with ivoroid ones of much better quality. Informacje o Martin V740 StringsVega strun banjo RETRO 10-23,10 - 11109692503 w archiwum Allegro. Have a bunch of pics I can forward, any particular area to focus on that would help? From the BRC, Barry. vega banjo identification. Hello. With the original Hardshell case and the rare Earl Scruggs Tuners or de- tuners if you will. Is has a hard case with blue interior. 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). C.F. Eric- Thanks for your kind comments about the website and prompt photos. Its in excellent condition other than needing some cleaning and a little metal polish on the metal parts. This email will be copied to my Vega Vox scholar Dr. Ron for his insights and comments.From the BRC, Barry. My estimate is that your VV IV-T can fetch about $1000-4500 these days depending on the online vendor or estate auction. Martin and Co., Est. Im hoping I can find a V41 pot. I do not know anything about banjos but the label inside the rim says VEGA of Boston. port melbourne players; fair lawn high school graduation; vega banjo identification; By . I received a letter(martin memo) along with my banjo covering head adjustment, plastic Vegalon heads, string action, bridge and nut and neck rod adjustment dated 8/26/71also a warranty card with the phone number 215-759-2837ask for miketelling me to use string type V750.having wanted one all my adult life, this banjo is the pinnacle of my banjo collecting desires. Im trying to decide wether to keep it as a memento, keep it and take some lessons, or possibly sell it because its a shame to have it sit in storage. C.F. Martin Company acquired the Vega rights from the Bostonian Nelson Family in May of 1970 and sold the franchise overseas in March of 1979. 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. 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 model was discontinued after Martin Guitar bought Vega in 1970. In the 1972 Martin catalogue, the Professional appears identical to yours, but it is absent from the 1976 catalogue. Congratulations on having two vintage VM banjos, and your gracious comments about the Info site are much appreciated. GREAT FORUM. This uniquestyle resonator was verypopular for many years, and it still hasvalue as a vintage part. Martin made 76 commemorative V-76 banjos in 1976 to celebrated the bicentennial of the USA. vega banjo identification - moongraphicdesigning.com Thanks for the great information on this page. Martin V720 Vega Steel/Nickel Banjo Strings - .009-.030 - Sweetwater Martin, and the line was discontinued in 1975. 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. Subscribe to get free banjos tips, hear about new products, special offers, and more! From the BRC, Barry. Your PS-5 Pete Seeger long neck # M-130259 was assembled in Nazareth in early 1971 per Shop Order 2012. 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. All the best, Barry. The `41` engraved on the tailpiece no doubt refers to the model V-41 designation. This is an early and very nice example of the classic Vega . Barry- Thanks for your queries and subsequent photos that promt me to revise my initial response. Save This Search Vega Vox short neck tenor banjo IiMPOSSIBLE TO FIND/ one of the best sounding Banjo's in the world> Used - Mint Condition Posted 11/15/2021 8:46:13 AM by Ronkisok - Country: United States - State: CT - ZIP: 06790 Vega De Luxe Electric Plectrum Banjo - Gruhn Guitars Vega Banjos Serial Numbers - spheregenerous Although the Martin Company did not manufacture Vega banjos till a century later, a solitary banjo from the mid 19th century is appended to the exhibit to display parallel innovation in the instrument because of its increasing popularity during that era. "F" Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. vega banjo identification It was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1973 per shop order # 2154. In a 1971 price list, the FW-5 sold for $345. Any clues? Per my files, the Pete Seeger long neck first appears in a Vega flyer in 1961 for $309. 1969, probably initially at the 40 Leon Street factory the Needham Heights (just before the sale to Martin). I was disappointed because I badly wanted to see Scruggs models! Just found you today . From the BRC, Barry. I have a vegavox 4 tenor banjo by Martin . vega banjo identification - pamelahudson.net Retail price was $1300.00 ; I paid $900.00 . Vega Tenor Banjo Serial Numbers - evertx 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. FAIRBANKS BANJO MANDOLINE. Many thanks to you and your friend Ron for putting me straight. . The rich heritage of Vega was derelict for 5 years until Deering rescued it by acquiring rights to the brand name in 1989. This instrument was a special order for banjoist, Jack Mistretta, from Grand Rapids, Michiganwho happened to be a friend of Eddie Peabody. Hello, I just stumbled onto this site today 4/16/20. Martin & Co. Organisation, NEEDHAM, MASS. Landis- Thanks for your post. The back of the peghead of these rare banjos is imprinted with a C.F. ! - Vintage Vega #2 Gp 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 For several years, the Vega Martin banjo was an amalgam of parts from Massachusetts and Nazareth, PA. Old 6 digit Vega serial numbers persisted on a yellow sticker on the inner pot until production was moved to Pennsylvania in 1972. If in poor condition, Ive seen them sell as low as $3000-4000. VIP is printed on the truss rod cover. rocket and teresa administrative leave; Barry. tone ring that you have. 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). This model appears in the 1972 and 1976 catalogues. Aside a changed bridge it remained un-modified and rarely played until about two years ago, as by the time I had bought it, I more and more began concentrating on the guitar. Nowadays, the Pro-5 would fetch around $1000-$1500 depending on condition. Thanks so much! Fender Standard Banjo Hardshell Case Black ,, kemenpppa.go.id 4kjzing@8x47evey1 I actually picked up a banjo that had a resonator that was sitting on the shelf in that 1970-72 period as Martin was transitioning and shutting down the factory there. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. About 20 years ago I had it re-fretted , re-finished , and the gold re-plated . Im mostly a guitar player. 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 . The only serial number is 1120. it in 1970 through a music store in Norwich , Ct run by Cliff Tidd . Neck and rim look a lot like made by Martin craftsmen, and it arrived set up perfectly. Martin decals on the inner rim and back of the peghead. The #24 on the tone ring is probably an assembly feature to separate the V-41 parts from its upscale gold-plated cousin the V-45 top of the line banjo. 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). After its Martin Guitar era, the Vega brand name ownership was sold overseas, and the banjo line fellinto obscurity. Martin in Nazareth, PA. Anders- Thanks for your query. Knowing the history of an instrument adds so much to the enjoyment of owning and playing it. What can you tell me about the history and value of this one. from BRC: Wim- Thanks for the great photo of your busy workshop. If you want a more Bluegrass sound, try a 5-Star head from Stew Mac. What a wealth of information! The problem is that the serial number labels at this time had printing errors, where the first numeric digit was omitted. The banjo featured a bell brass audio-sonic tone ring, different from the tubaphone tone ring, and a ten ply maple rim. They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. Would appreciate any information you can provide to verify the model and any original cost/current value. It was advertised to feature a rosewood veneered rim and resonator trimmed in abalone pearl like the C.F. Do you know how many tenor V41 banjos were made? $260 USD. 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. The description of your banjo serial number 916 is curious, and I will offer my theory about the instrument per the information given. In the final Martin price listed published in 1971, it listed for $345 without case. 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. 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 Martin banjo SN 324 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in early 1973. Martin purchased Vega in May of 1970, and production transitioned from Boston to Nazareth, PA. Just came across your site, I was wondering if you would be able to help identify what model Martin Vega banjo that I have, I believe it is from the 70s. From the BRC, Barry. Thanks Again! So heres my question. Do you have a total of these models made under the Massachusetts Vega name? The Folk Wonder is an open-back banjo that features a maple neck, a white bound ebony fretboard with pearl dots, and geared pegs in the headstock. From the BRC, Barry. Martin built only 20 F-VIP 5 stringers, and to my count 11 were made in Pennsylvania per the shop log book. Fairbanks Banjos - Serial Numbers and Features by year There are some folklore stories why the Seeger banjo was discontinued. The Folk Ranger was a no-frills entry level banjo that Vega made in response to the folk music revival era. Thanks! Is this an old genuine Vega in the lower price class, Sten- Thanks for your query about the FR-5 banjo. Your VW-5 model Vega Wonder banjo SN 721 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in late 1973 per Shop Order 2181. Id like to echo previous comments and thank you for a great, great website, chock full of useful information. 2 for $4149. Vega Tu-ba-phone Banjo | National Museum of American History The metal parts were chrome-plated. Vintage Vega Style M Tubaphone Banjo 1921 Boston Mass W Case Inlay TU BA PHONE C $1,714.08 Was: C $1,904.53 or Best Offer SPONSORED Banjo made by Tokai T600R T-600R vintage 5 strings acoustic w/ hardcase C $1,021.01 Free shipping or Best Offer Only 1 left! The last two Vox Vs (serial numbers 1964-1965) were built in 1979, and still exist to this day. Roger- Thanks for your challenging follow-up query. The Style K was Vega's least expensive banjo-mandolin, not having a "tone ring" installed, unlike the pricier Tu-Ba-Phone and Whyte Laydie models. If this banjo has some more of the early prewar design features, add $1000-1500.Hope this helps, Dr. Ron. You banjo parts were probably shipped in 1977 to Japan for assembly where all serial number assignments were in disarray. In May of 1970, C.F. 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. My other theory is that the pot, which bears a C.F. 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). ampleforth college redundancies. Andreas- Thank you for the historical narrative on your banjo and the detailed photographs. I would love to be able to date this banjo: SN 999 as a decal under the Martin logo inside the rim with the Martin logo decal on the back side of the peghead as well. Wow! 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.