This item has been sold. 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. 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 I am assuming someone may have penciled in an extra 1 on yours, but my best guess is that it was made sometime in the last half of 1963 (A12130 was the first banjo produced in Jan 64). Per the 1971 price list, the V-45-5 sold for $1650 with case included, and it was available by special order only. Flanked by interactive faculty at a northeastern banjo camp, the BRC founderproudly shows-off his Vega VIP banjo built in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in 1975. 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. Vega banjos were marketed in the US thereafter by TMC (Targ & Dinner 20 Century Music Company) via a catalogue published in May of 1979. In the 1960`s, the PS-5 featured a 3 piece ebony fingerboard and a Tube-a-phone tone ring of bell brass and a 5 ply maple rim. Thank you. To unravel most of the curious mystery of the legendary Bobby Joe Fenster, please scroll back to the Sept. 12, 2014 homepage posting devoted to this interesting figure from the annals of Vega Martin banjo history, or just enter fenster in the search engine on the home page. brian kim, cpa clearvalue tax net worth . When C.F. The story he told was that it was a distress sale for a friend, and that the banjo was one of 1000 limited editions and had a solid silver tone ring, and was worth at least twice the price. Thanks for your very kind words about the BRC website. Identification: "A" Style mandolins were symmetrical and shaped like a teardrop. The VM price list in 1971 quoted a sales tag of $545 for the Pro-5 without case. 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. 403.80. Again, thanks for your post. Vega serial #s between 99369 and 99686, when the switch from the Vega stamp to printed yellow labels seems to have occured. The rich heritage of Vega was derelict for 5 years until Deering rescued it by acquiring rights to the brand name in 1989. My aunt gave me a Martin Vega banjo serial number 892 to see what it was worth since she is not internet savy and looking to sell it. Could you tell me where it was built and what its value is today ? Deering rescued the Vega line by purchasing the brand name in 1989. ampleforth college redundancies. Thank you so very much for this information! First let me thank you for this amazing well of information! An example of one of these 4-stringers from the 1920`s is still in the C.F. However, current thinking (thanks to Hank Schwartz) is that 999 numbers were assigned per year -- from the start, in 1880. Home; Meet Darlene; ISI Mission; What is Coaching? The parts of your VIP-5 (Very Important Player) banjo # 130056 were probably manufactured in Massachusetts and assembled in Pennsylvania with a yellow data sticker on the inside rim and maybe C.F. A total of 98 model D-76E guitars were also made for employees. 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. The story of how Greg Deering came to own the 130 year old Vega trademark is one of childhood dreams and an unmissable opportunity. The Vega brand was subsequently sold overseas in 1979. From the BRC, Barry, Barry, i have an extended neck (25 fretts) Vega/Martin banjo with a serial number of 80. 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. Thanks for letting us see this fascinating and unique instrument. I bought a Vega Martin 5 string some time in 2000. Give it a try and good luck. June 7, 2022; homes for sale by owner in berwick, pa . Here's a bit of description on the various models: This was also the case for their mandolin banjo lines. Ironically, C.F. I inherited a Vega 5-string resonator banjo and have been trying to find out additional information about it. Tom- Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your instrument. Specs are equal to the popular Gold Tone MM-150 with the addition of three extra frets allowing the banjo to tune to EBEG#B. Wow! Martin manufactured 561 VW-5 banjos but only 124 FW-5 instruments. Good luck and thanks again for your post. It is mentioned again on a back page of the 1972 catalogue. The Vega 1961 flyer and 1963 catalogue describe that the Earl Scruggs model had a sunburst finish on the resonator. 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). In PACTware software. The Pro-5 does not appear in the 1976 Vega Martin catalogue. Wooden pot resonator. Any clues? 1519. Thanks again. Martin Vega Banjo 5-Strings, Medium Gauge (V740) Check Price at Amazon. Mike- Thanks for your post and kind remarks about the BRC website. Shortly thereafter, the Martin craftsmen went on strike, and banjo parts were shipped overseas for assembly. 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. Where to find your serial number. 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). Do you know how many tenor V41 banjos were made? Martin in Nazareth, PA, in 1973. Rob- Thank you for your kind comments about the BRC website, You are a lucky guy to have two Vega Martin 5-stringers, both made in Nazareth, PA. 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. The flanges, tension hoop, tailpiece and extended armrest are deeply and elaborately engraved, and were originally finished in a special hardened 24K gold electroplate. 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. 2 Tu-Ba-Phone XL long neck premieres instead. Been used in the studio and loaned to a friend about 30 years ago while he his banjo was being repaired. Kudos to Greg Deering who rescued the Vega brand name from extinction in 1989 and restored it to greatness. But, the neck had the upgraded crown inlay pattern like their mid range banjos, and originally a paddle peghead design (the new scroll design appeared in 1968). 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). what I know about banjos right now I learned from you!! Martin upgraded the maple rim to 10 ply after purchasing the Vega/Boston franchise in May of 1970. Many thanks for your efforts. Also, the banjo has some ornate details carved in it. From the BRC, Barry, Sir: What kind of info can you give me on a V-76E banjo, Ser. They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. John, just an old Missouri banjo picker transplanted in Arizona. 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. It turned out the owner had another banjo that also resembled a Vega but had the same lack of Vega ID, turns our the name "W Fawly" was on the wooden center dowel . Any insights appreciated along with your understanding of when it was manufactured, components, what it originally sold for and current market value. 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 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. 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. I have two Ode long neck banjos, and one of them is my daily practice instrument because of its wife-friendly tone. Serial # 1795. As you have observed, the VIP tonering has holes grouped in threes, so maybe yours might be a lucky survivor from the early days of the VIP line when the model first appeared in the 1970 Vega Martin catalogue. VINTAGE VEGA TENOR BANJO, 1930, RESONATOR, 19 FRET, CLEAN. In the meantime, thanks again for your post. The Vega Company manufactured of this era were assembled at the 40 Leon Street factory in Boston from 1961-1966, and subsequently at the 155 Reservoir Street facility outside Boston in suburban Needham Heights from 1966-1971(C. F. Martin acquired the company in May 1970 and continued some manufacturing/assembly there until moving fully to Martins factory in Nazareth, PA). $260 USD. As Barry indicates, a photo of the yellow sticker will be helpful here. I also did replace all of the cheapish plastic knobs with ivoroid ones of much better quality. Typically, the number would be preceded with an A (indicating an adjustable truss rod) followed by a six-digit number. Bob. Hello, Posts. 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. JC 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. Your F-VIP (Folk-Very Important Player) banjo #1456 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1975 in a lot of 3 such instruments per Shop Order 2274. Hope this helps, and all the best picking, Barry. The Vega Vox model was a 4 string gem that featured a brass tone ring. Hope this helps and thanks again for your post and e-mails, Barry, Lynne- Thanks for your query. C.F. Hope this helps and au revoir, Barry. 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. The Galaxy serial number is not a continuum of the Martin serial number sequence. Thats a lot of information! The inside of the banjo is also blank except for the painted serial number 2207. !Gary, Gary- Thanks for your query. There were forty-six Vega Martin V-45 banjos made of similar design, but the hardware was gold-plated. John- Thank-you for the detailed photos. 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. Is this generally true, can one instantly recognize a Nazareth vs. Massachusetts by the stain color? 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. Subscribe to get free banjos tips, hear about new products, special offers, and more! The rim and shoe screws/washer are likely homemade/cut down and tone ring is not Galaxy stock, but more of a Gibson knockoff. Not quite as universally imitated as, say, Stradivari's violins or Martin's dreadnought guitars, but close. 0 bids $10.96 shipping Ending Oct 14 at 5:44AM PDT5d 4hFrom GermanyBrand: VEGA C.F. If it has a wooden pot resonator, remove it and check the inner rim for identifiers. Q: At what point did Vega go from ball end to open end bracket nuts? I tried to find your email address at your Banjo homepage without any success. 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 . 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? Barry. Hi there Folks.A few weeks ago i bought a Vega martin 5 string banjo, tubaphone tonering, the screws to attach the shoes to the bracket band go through the bracketband but also through the rim.The banjo is almost in unplayed condition, sounds wonderfull, the original case is also there.serial numer is 1707. Ive owned one for 30 yrs though I dont play it very well. Thanks for your post. Resale prices for this type of banjo vary widely from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars depending on unique features. The first two digits tell you the month the banjo was built, the last two digits before the dash or space will tell you the year, and the numbers in between are considered the number of that model we have made since we started the formal serial number system in 1987. Services; vega banjo identification 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. George Gruhn might also know. What a wealth of banjo information you have.I have a VV IV T tenor SN: M130298 which I purchase used about twenty-five years ago for $2,000. This workshop numbering system continued uninterrupted to #2355 in 1977 when the banjos went overseas for assembly. Note below the C.F. Thanks so much Ill get back to you if any further questions. CL. Hi guys, great website. Plectrum means a 4-string model with 22 frets, which is longer scale (27) than the 19 fret 4-string tenor (23). Martin decal on the back of your peghead and on the inner rim. Theres barely a mark on the banjo (except for the binding where it was put on a stand) and this will probably buff out. All the very best from the BRC, Barry, Thank you, Barry. Hello, I have enjoyed reading your posts on Vega-Martin banjos. It is not clear why Martin initiated this product line. Hello. Your instrument SN 448 is one of 11 Pete Seeger extra long neck (PS-5) models manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1973 per Shop Order 2153. rocket and teresa administrative leave; The Wonder was an entry level resonator instrument that featured a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, 3 piece maple neck, blackwood fretboard, pearl dots, nickel-pate parts and a shaded mahogany finish. Martin factory in Nazareth, PA, parts were shipped overseas to Japan and Canada for assembly. I have attached photos comparing the label printing difference. I was lucky enough to buy one but, as my music and and the type of music I had to play to get work changed, I hardly played this, near mint condition, banjo. During the Vega Martin era, C.F. Galaxy marketed its 4 and 5 stringers in the USA via a remarkably unimaginative TMC catalog in which each banjo was identified only with an Item number but no model moniker to give it personality like the Pro-5 or Wonder banjos named by the earlier corporate owners. Greg Deering acquired rights to the Vega brand name in 1989 and restored the banjo line to greatness. This is an early and very nice example of the classic Vega . The C.F. Close study of the flange can sometimes reveal, however, that it is left-over Vega hardware from the Needham Heights factory. In the the 1971 Vega Martin price list, the VW-Plec retailed at $345. What can you tell me about my instrument? 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. It is not seen in the 1970 transitional Vega/Martin catalogue. Deering now owns the Vega brand, and it is rumored that they may revive the deep resonator design. Vega banjos were then marketed in the USA by TMC (Targ & Dinner Music Company). Do you have any information on it? I have a seperate label thats still in the case showing the serial # 1199. Thanks for posting the information on Martin mage Vega banjos. Martin built only 20 F-VIP 5 stringers, and to my count 11 were made in Pennsylvania per the shop log book. The peg head engraving and paint motif matched the resonator. Unless refinished, the decal on the back alsomakes it post-1972. Martins acquisition of Vega of Bostonand, the only other one completed in the old Needham Heights factory before banjo production finally moved to Nazareth. With the original Hardshell case and the rare Earl Scruggs Tuners or de- tuners if you will. Roger- Thanks much for your query. Im now forced to sell several beloved instruments but have no idea how to price this gem. vega banjo identification. It has only a tape serial number inside the pot of 1124. post . Also, I can send pictures, if this would help, or just be fun! I appreciate having some of the history around my banjo and will cherish it even more knowing it is somewhat rare. 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. Because so few Pro-5`s were manufactured in Nazareth, it is difficult to gauge the worth of your banjo these days. SF bay area > east bay > for sale > musical instruments - by owner. Jim _Thanks for your query. Of note, the PS-5 had the `famous Vega Tube-a-phone tone ring rim`, a 3 piece ebony fingerboard, pearl dots, a neck-tension rod, nickel-plated rim parts, a shaded mahogany neck, and a 10 ply maple rim. The Folk Ranger was a no-frills entry level banjo that Vega made in response to the folk music revival era. fender american professional ii vs ultra. If in poor condition, Ive seen them sell as low as $3000-4000. According to the factory logbook, banjo # 481 was one of eleven PS-5 banjos made per Shop Order # 2155 by C.F. I really appreciate your orientation. my Martin/Vega PS5 #481 is about a month into my possession. There is no #1 Martin banjo listed, but banjos #6-8 were Vega Vox-4-T tenors built per Shop Order 2087. I orderedit in 1970 through a music store in Norwich , Ct run by Cliff Tidd . Good luck, thanks much for your post, and great to hear from you again, Barry. Sold out. Martin files indicate that only one Scruggs Mark II banjo and only one Scruggs Soloist banjo were manufactured at the Martin factory in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in the 1970`s. 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 dont know much about banjos because Im a guitar man myself. Cited in the Vega price list of 1971, the last one VM published, the retail price tag was $488 without case. vega banjo identification. Hit a few licks on the tenor- you might find that you like it. I have found it helpful over the years. Martin upgraded the maple rim to 10 ply after purchasing the Vega/Boston franchise in May of 1970. Martin made only about a dozen more PS-5 banjos. With appreciation, Barry, S.C.-Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your banjo. Martin purchased the Vega brand in May in 1970 and just before the factory was transferred to Pennsylvania.
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