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. Of note, the tubular connecting rod and the Allen head screws seen in your banjo pot are design features left-over from the Vega era in Boston. The BRC Archives contain the serial numbers of these unique Vega-Martin banjos. Thanks from all of us! All original except the tailpiece cracked at the bend not long after I got it, and I replaced it with the Stew-Mac version. I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . FAIRBANKS BANJO MANDOLINE. Vega Banjo Identification - azgardcn The highly ornate Vega Vox IV banjo with serial number #1969 was the final officially documented banjo manufactured by C. F. Martin in Nazareth, PA. , circa 1978-79. June 7, 2022; homes for sale by owner in berwick, pa . I have found it helpful over the years. The inside of the banjo is also blank except for the painted serial number 2207. From the BRC, Barry. They all had yellow serial number stickers. P.S. 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. Rochester NY 14610. Its always inspiring to see someone so dedicated to their craft! My estimate is that your vintage instrument is worth $1500-1700. Hope this helps. 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 so much! This workshop numbering system continued uninterrupted to #2355 in 1977 when the banjos went overseas for assembly. best of . 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). I ordered. Your Pete Seeger (PS-5) was one of eleven PS-5 long neck banjos made in early 1972 per Shop Order 2098. 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. Theres barely a mark on the banjo (except for the binding where it was put on a stand) and this will probably buff out. Where to find your serial number. Sold out. This banjo has all hand-machined bell brass parts to replace the cheaper, more commonly used aluminum alloys used by both Vega and Martin during that era (including coordinator rods, top-tension rim lugs/shoes and bolts), and Kellens other signature upgrades that includes an 1/8 brass shim between the heel of the neck and rim and lacquered, highly polished inner resonator to enhance tone depth and volume projection. From the BRC, Barry. Hello, I have enjoyed reading your posts on Vega-Martin banjos. it has five strings and if you would be so kind let me know something about it and if someone you know wants to play it, I guess it would be better off with them; or I will go take lessons I suppose. The well preserved CFM decals on the rim and back of the peg head clearly document that the parts were made in Nazareth, PA, circa 1974. After the difficult 1977 luthier strike at the C.F. Martin did not publish retail prices after 1971, so my guess is that this up scale model sold back then for around $600. Martin made only about a dozen more PS-5 banjos. 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. Good luck and thanks again for your post. Vintage Banjos for sale | eBay Shortly thereafter, the Martin craftsmen went on strike, and banjo parts were shipped overseas for assembly. The Vega line was then marketed in the USA by TMC Company (Targ & Dinner 20 Century Music Company). 2 Tu-Ba-Phone model which is part of an historic production series started in the 1920`s in Boston, continued in Nazareth, PA, and sustained today by Deering in Spring Valley, CA. 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). Each of the men is posed in front of a Vega model 131 amplifier, identical to the unit which remains with the banjo today. Thanks for your post and happy pickin`, Barry. From the BRC, Barry, Sir: What kind of info can you give me on a V-76E banjo, Ser. It was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1973 per shop order # 2154. 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. Piecing the clues together of this mysterious banjo, I suspect that is was a special order item because of the unusually disparate combination of CFM parts. Hope this helps and thanks for your post. Micky- Thanks for your narrative on your Pete Seeger long neck. Vega Martin long neck PS-5 banjo SN 80 is one of eleven Pete Seeger 5-stringers manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1972 per Shop Order 2098. I appreciate having some of the history around my banjo and will cherish it even more knowing it is somewhat rare. The label indicates the banjo was made in Needham, MA, but the Vega company was owned by the CF Martin guitar company. Your VW-5 model Vega Wonder banjo SN 721 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in late 1973 per Shop Order 2181. Martin manufactured 561 VW-5 banjos but only 124 FW-5 instruments. I will trade for a good Octave Mandolin or Bouzouki Cited in the Vega price list of 1971, the last one VM published, the retail price tag was $488 without case. Martin Museum collection. Replacing a broken flange on a rare and vintage instrument is a tough task. 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. Like Mark whom you cite from Comment #6 above, your banjo is one of 14 Pro-5 instruments manufactured per Shop Order #2197 in 1974 in Nazareth, PA. Martin built 100 Pro-5 banjos from 1971-79, including the whimsical Bobby Joe Fenster 5 stringer which was a thinly disguised Pro-5. nike nationals track and field backpack; 0 comments. I told her to leave cause i thought they were taking advantage of her because of her age. vega banjo identification. ! - Vintage Vega #2 Gp It is the first martin-vega I have ever seen in person, or had in my hands! The tone ring is stamped 24, and the tail piece is stamped 41. vega banjo identification very carefully, I did and its four digits # 1450. it looks very good to me as far as the condition, its just old and kind of dirty. Thanks Again! The C.F. 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. 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). I had Renee Karnes carve the heel with a VV flower and leaf design to get rid of the SS #. Although a Bluegrass resonator banjo musician, my daily practice exercises are conducted sans picks on one of two long neck Ode 5-stringers that are wife-friendly in tone. Martin built only 101 PS-5 long necks. I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . What Does My Banjo's Serial Number Tell Me? - Deering Banjo Company vega serial numbers - Discussion Forums - Banjo Hangout Published by at 16 de junio de 2022. I also did replace all of the cheapish plastic knobs with ivoroid ones of much better quality. 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. The Eddie Peabody Model was actually made by Vega of Boston from 1966-ca. 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. Here's a bit of description on the various models: This was also the case for their mandolin banjo lines. My estimate is that it might fetch $1800-2000 these days. Per the 1971 price list, the V-45-5 sold for $1650 with case included, and it was available by special order only. Martin Vega Banjo Strings Features: Tin-plated steel core is responsive, lively, and resilient Nickel alloy wrap wire is consistently smooth and tonally flexible for a variety of playing styles Medium gauge for full-bodied tone and strong midrange response Tech Specs Number of Strings: 5 String Material: Steel Winding Material: Nickel Alloy The PS-5 is not seen in the 1976 Vega Martin catalog but is replaced by the No. Hopes this helps and thanks again for the detailed pictures. Galaxy apparently went bankrupt around 1984 and vanished from the financial scene. 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). I love the story. Can`t find anything about it on line. Every Martin Vega I have seen has a more dark brown mahogany-colored stain. Your banjo appears to be a hybrid assembled sometime in the 1980`s after C. F. Martin sold the Vega franchise overseas to the Galaxy conglomerate in 1979. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. This banjo was made by the Vega Company in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1922. In the meantime, keep on pickin` that Pro-5. I live near Portland, Oregon. ampleforth college redundancies. They are on the second and 3rd strings and allow that Buck Trent kind of thing. Im sure theres a story behind this banjo and why it was made. Rettberg & Lange(1898-1920) banjos were initially similar to Buckbee-made 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. Although a mystery to me, this top of the line resonator banjo was introduced by C.F. Depending upon condition, it is probably worth somewhere around $750 these days. Ernie- It would be helpful if you could send a photo of your yellow sticker, as I suspect that your Vega Vox IV was manufactured in Boston in 1964 after Vega reconverted to a six digit serial number during the pre- C.F. tone ring that you have. There are 13 stars on the banjo fretboard, and there should be a plaque on the back of the headstock. Hit a few licks on the tenor- you might find that you like it. VT2NRC in its 1979 catalogue, and Galaxy went bankrupt in a few years. Vega Banjos - The Mandolin Pages 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. The long-neck No. 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. 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 evolution of the Professional model dates back to the Boston 1963 Vega catalogue that featured the first Pro model banjo that looked like an inexpensive version of the Earl Scruggs model that Vega offered at that time. 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. Martin & Co. Organisation, NEEDHAM, MASS. I have two 1930 Vegaphones and an earlier Tubaphone conversion, and this VIP is certainly able to hold up its weight tone wise. 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. Dear Per- In May of 1970, C.F. C.F. Fairbanks Banjos - Serial Numbers and Features by year 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. vega banjo identification - moongraphicdesigning.com

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