Item # 9126. Its also featuring the two small hexagon bolts inside the rim (Quite handy for fine-centering the neck! 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. This banjo was made by the Vega Company in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1922. Thanks for the great information on this page. Thanks again. I have a vegavox 4 tenor banjo by Martin . Ernie Ball 5-String Medium Stainless Steel Banjo Strings, 10-10 Gauge (P02309) Check Price at Amazon. In the the 1971 Vega Martin price list, the VW-Plec retailed at $345. 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 . Greg Deering acquired rights to the Vega brand name in 1989 and restored the banjo line to greatness. Ironically, C.F. 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). I then discovered my Vega VIP Martin 1972 model #1766, a beautiful banjo which I have played for the past 12 years. 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. Each of the men is posed in front of a Vega model 131 amplifier, identical to the unit which remains with the banjo today. I tried to find your email address at your Banjo homepage without any success. By history, C.F. i replaced the head but it still sounds the same. Do you know how many Scruggs or Scruggs Soloists, and Sonny Osborne models were made under the Martin ownership and where made? 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. What a wealth of information! Therefore it became dissembled. Roger- Thanks much for your query. Martin Company acquired the Vega rights from the Bostonian Nelson Family in May of 1970 and sold the franchise overseas in March of 1979. Banjo SN 1648 is a `Folk Wonder` model (FW-5) which first appears in the Vega (Boston) catalogue in 1961 per my files. Services; vega banjo identification Retail price was $1300.00 ; I paid $900.00 . Thank you so much!! If you had a picture archive, Id be happy to post some pictures. New and Used Vega Banjos for Sale Search Agent: Get notified when new ads meet your criteria! Any help with identifying it (I cant find a serial number anywhere) or locating buyers would be so gratefully welcomed! Galaxy went bankrupt around 1984 and vanished. Martin- Thank you for your query and very useful photos. The fascinatingwooden pie (sectioned) resonator is probably inherited from the Boston era Vega inventory. Your VW-5 model Vega Wonder banjo SN 721 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in late 1973 per Shop Order 2181. Save on our most popular Goodtime banjos - the Goodtime openback and the Goodtime Two - at your favorite Deering dealer today! Give it a try and good luck. Answer: Tu-Ba-Phone 5-String made 1978-1979. 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. 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 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). They are 230, 243, 353, LVII (57?) Jack. sir- need some help. I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . Vega Regent 5 String Banjo (1925) | RetroFret Deering (California) now owns the Vega brand name and produces a `Little Wonder` and `Old Tyme Wonder` 5-stringer not unlike your instrument. VEGA Vintage Banjos for sale | eBay 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 purchased the instrument from a private dealer (Kingsport, TN) for $800. I would love some photos of your V-45 to upload with this post. Jon- Thanks much for your kind comments about the website. I got an old Vega banjo from my father. This classic and ornate Vega series dates back to the 1920s but did not appear in the 1970 and 1972 Vega Martin catalogues. Although mostly a collector`s item these days, the current price range of the V-76 is $2.3-5K. It is a Vega Martin model VW-5 called a Vega Wonder and sometimes referred to as the Wonder-5. What is it worth today, and what did it sell for when new? The tone ring holes are grouped in sets of three rather than equally spaced as on a tubaphone ring. For example: 0534599-7362 would be a banjo from May of 1999. If you want a more Bluegrass sound, try a 5-Star head from Stew Mac. The Vega serial number files still available do not specify the specific models of banjo manufactured in Massachusetts. Just found you today . 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. 22 frets. Reply from our BRC consultant and Vega Vox scholar Dr. Ron: Looks like something that might have put together from parts, either insideor outside the factoryI suspect the latter as there have been lots of Voxchop shop conversions going back in time (even to the 1920s). So heres my question. Identifying Unmarked Banjos - Bill's Banjos Both of these models had block mother of pearl inlays, with fewer inlays appearing on the new scaled-down Pro fretboard. These days, my guess is that this 5 stringer is worth about $1500 or more depending on condition. Hello and thank you so much for your hard work and dedication. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Really sounds and pays great. The story of how Greg Deering came to own the 130 year old Vega trademark is one of childhood dreams and an unmissable opportunity. Your tenor 4-stringer was built in early 1972 per Shop Order 2051. Of historical interest, when Martin initiated its own four digit serial number system in 1972 to replace the Vega six digit system, banjos SN 2-5 were the V-45(5) model. After the original owner, Jack Mistretta, passed away in 1998, this banjo found its way to Japan, where noted jazz-banjoist, Ken Aoki, featured it for many years in his touring act. However, current thinking (thanks to Hank Schwartz) is that 999 numbers were assigned per year -- from the start, in 1880. In the Vega Martin shop files, banjo SN 916 is a VVI-P (Vega Vox Style 1 plectrum) resonator banjo made in 1974 in Nazareth, PA. Plectrum 4 stringers have 22 frets compared to the tenors that have 17 to 19 frets. . Just came across your site, I was wondering if you would be able to help identify what model Martin Vega banjo that I have, I believe it is from the 70s. C.F. The local music store said they would give her 120$ for it. 721 which I have had a number of years. Barry, Samantha Thanks for the extensive and helpful photos of your above banjo. 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. 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. Please try again. You banjo parts were probably shipped in 1977 to Japan for assembly where all serial number assignments were in disarray. 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. Martin purchased the Vega brand line. Your 5 stringer is cited only as Item VDX75C in the 1979 TMC catalog where to retailed for $475. I have 3 Vega banjos , 1963 Earl Scruggs model A 10921(Scruggs ST-5, handwritten in red ink under that on yellow label) which I played for 23 years, she has a very mellow sound. The Vega Regent is one of the classic 5-string banjos of the Vega line. used speakers for sale craigslist; pioneer woman carne guisada; vega banjo identification; By . Published by at 16 de junio de 2022. 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. $42 USD. When C. F. Martin took over Vega in 1970, they dropped the A-xxxxxx serial numbers and replaced it with M-xxxxxx series, until starting a new four digit numbering system in 1972 at the Nazareth factory. 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. 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. From its early Boston beginnings, the Vega Banjo Company made splendidand now vintage instruments, including the Earl Scruggs signature model heendorsed in the 1960s. From the BRC, Barry. Barry. Photos are always welcome, and thanks for your post. Deering now owns the Vega brand, and it is rumored that they may revive the deep resonator design. 1519. Your VW-5 with SN 1519 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1976 per Shop Order 2285. There are 13 stars on the banjo fretboard, and there should be a plaque on the back of the headstock. 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. In recent years, Deeringrecreated andmarkets its ownVega Professional 4-stringer model with a classic wooden pie sectioned resonator. Martin built only 101 PS-5 long necks. Hope this helps and au revoir, Barry. 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. Wow, I glad to find your website! Be safe, be well, keep on picking. Thank You for your time and web site. ANTIQUE S.S. STEWART UNIVERSAL FAVORITE BANJO with INTERESTING HISTORY C $146.35 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. We have a bunch of new Deering merch for you whether it be socks, shirts, tote bags, mugs, and more! After a loooong wait I finally got it in 1971 . Great information and even better advice. How much Galaxy (or Martin) produce new parts vs. assemble old stock bought from Vega? Martin built 561 VW-5 banjos in the 1970`s.You can learn more about this VM instrument by browsing my
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