I lived in Needham MA for 20+ years, and Im wondering if that tone ring possibly came from Vegas final days in Needham. My estimate is that your vintage instrument is worth $1500-1700. The serial number is stamped in the wooden rim below the Martin decal. Hope this helps and all the best in 2019, Barry. Your VW-5 with SN 1519 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1976 per Shop Order 2285. P.S. Great information and even better advice. George Gruhn might also know. However, its a beautifully crafted banjo with a great sound. According to the C.F. 2 Tu-Ba-Phone XL is seen in the 1976 catalogue. There are different types of banjos and plenty of new terminology for parts of banjos and playing styles. Original MRSP $1310 without case (carved neck was also extra). Every Martin Vega I have seen has a more dark brown mahogany-colored stain. It is in pristine condition and is clearly a very high quality instrument. Dick- Thank you for being a frequent reader of the BRC website. Then by ink its written Folk Ranger. Martin built only 31 of the V-41 instruments: 28 of the V-41-5 model like yours, 1 plectrum and 2 tenor 4-stringers. Martin purchased the Vega brand line. Vega Pete Seeger Model Longneck Model 5 String Banjo (1961), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 100971, shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case. This 5-stringer was manufactured circa 1845 in Baltimore, MD, by luthier William Boucher, Jr.. wyoming seminary athletic scholarship; Tags . Martin`s transition from traditional Spanish, Viennese, and Renaissance structural features towards innovating a modern acoustic guitar with a unique cross brace design. Services; vega banjo identification One of the best known Kay electric guitars during the 1950s was the K-161 "Thin Twin", most visibly used by blues artist Jimmy Reed. Do you have any additional information you could share regarding this instrument? There is no #1 Martin banjo listed, but banjos #6-8 were Vega Vox-4-T tenors built per Shop Order 2087. For a chuckle, see the latest home page entry for BJF details. About 20 years ago I had it re-fretted , re-finished , and the gold re-plated . Vintage Vega Banjo - musical instruments - by owner - sale set of identifying characteristics can be found at http://www.mugwumps.com. According to the C.F. The Pro-5 does not appear in the 1976 Vega Martin catalogue. 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. Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb Oops, Something went wrong. The other 9 were likely shipped to Canada or Japan for assembly after 1977. C.F. "F" Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. Hi guys, great website. 1921 Vega Style L Whyte Laydie Mandolin Banjo. Martin made 101 of the PS-5 instruments which listed for $488 without case in the final V/M price list in 1971. Categories . ampleforth college redundancies. Hope this helps. Barry, Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. The V-41 was available by special order only, and it listed back then for $850. 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. thanks for the very informative web site 96.90 postage. They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. Hello there, what a terrific Web page you guys have put together so interesting, i have a open back tenor banjo with the Martin logo and nos 916 it has the same pearl inlay as the 5 string pro it has 19 frets , i have no idea of its value but it has a beautiful slim neck just so easy to finger chords, cheers Rob. The handsome Professional-5 model with an upgraded tone ring and rim re-appeared in the 1972 Vega/Martin banjo catalogue- but no sign ever again of the short lived BJF-5 stringer. Tim, Tim- Thanks much for your query. Its in excellent condition other than needing some cleaning and a little metal polish on the metal parts. 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. vega banjo identification - Aviator Land Martin manufactured only 33 VW-plectrum banjos. 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. Buy VEGA Banjos and get the best deals at the lowest prices on eBay! Martin purchased the Vega brand in May of 1970, the Martin factory in Nazareth, PA, began to re-tool for banjo production. Vega Banjo Identification Professional Had Black. The Wonder model had a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a heavy notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, geared tuners, a 3 piece maple neck, a blackwood fretboard, pearl dots, a resonator with 4 section metal tone flanges, nickel-plated parts, a plastic head, an armrest and shaded mahogany finish. Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. There are 13 stars on the banjo fretboard, and there should be a plaque on the back of the headstock. Your banjo is item # VB120C which sold for $360 back then. Good luck with your vintage Seeger long neck and photos of this prize would be most welcome for posting here if you are so inclined. The Ranger sold for $125 in 1961 and $158 in 1966. My VIP-5 is SN 1364 and was made about one year after your 5-stringer, and it has a nice mid range tone. From the BRC, Barry. The local music store said they would give her 120$ for it. This is a stock neck off a Martin-made tenor from that erathe fingerboardblock inlay is what would be found on only the Vox I or Pro. Buckbee(1861-1897) banjos can frequently be identified by their Banjos with pegheads like that shown in the first picture below are usually made by Buckbee. The six digit Boston serial numbers were replaced by the Martin SN`s beginning with #2 in 1972. Anders- Thanks for your query. Smakula Fretted Instruments; Banjos Everywhere! The Folk Ranger was a no-frills entry level banjo that Vega made in response to the folk music revival era. It is a top-of-the-line banjo that was paired with the reissued D-45 Martin guitar as a marketing strategy. The last Vega Martin banjo manufactured in Nazareth, PA, was SN 1969 as reportedly documented by a letter of authentication signed by C.F. 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. Can you identify this rare Vega Martin banjo just by the peghead markings? C.F. Check Price at Amazon. 3, Serial #50232, with a patented brass top hoop and bracket band over a seven-lap sectional maple hoop, 28 brackets, mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard with22 frets and inlaid pearloid dots and star position marks, carved heel, peghead with flowerpot inlay . Device Search - VEGA The V-45(5) featured a heavy one-piece flat head tone ring of brass so popular among Bluegrass pickers. C.F. The back of the peghead of these rare banjos is imprinted with a C.F. I have a Vega Martin five string that my father special ordered around 76-77 Supposedly it was #10 of 10. vega banjo identification - americanuzbekistan.org Martin began shipping parts overseas for assembly. Vega banjos were then marketed in the USA by TMC (Targ & Dinner Music Company). Been used in the studio and loaned to a friend about 30 years ago while he his banjo was being repaired. model serial number 1990. Give it a try and good luck. What A great and informative site .. From the BRC, Barry, I inquired on Banjo Hangout about information on a Vega banjo acquired from a friend. Subject: Help with ID of Vega Banjo please. My estimate is that your VV IV-T can fetch about $1000-4500 these days depending on the online vendor or estate auction. 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. Data from these logbooks are available per e-mail request from the BRC founder. The serial numbers for the overseas-produced instruments were in the 2000+ range in sequence with the last official VM banjo manufactured in Nazareth, PA, which bore #1969. Serial # 1795. 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. All of these extra upgrades were reportedly worth an additional $1000 at the time. During this transitional period, Boston parts were shipped to Nazareth for assembly, and Martin pre-fixed the traditional six digit Vega serial number with the letter `M`. 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. The Vega name on the head is not with the usual letters and there is no star there either. The rim and shoe screws/washer are likely homemade/cut down and tone ring is not Galaxy stock, but more of a Gibson knockoff. Because so few Pro-5`s were manufactured in Nazareth, it is difficult to gauge the worth of your banjo these days. and CXXVI (126?). Bill- Thanks for your query. The Vega line was then marketed in the USA by TMC Company (Targ & Dinner 20 Century Music Company). My estimate would be that this rare and exotic bird might fetch around $1800 or more these days. The 10-1/8" diameter rim has a calf skin head and most of it's original . The rhinestones on the flanges, tension bolts, and peghead differ from Peabodys prototype and the later Martin production Vox V models. 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. Serial number assignment and record keeping fell into disarray from 1977 to 1979. Jim _Thanks for your query. Here's a bit of description on the various models: This was also the case for their mandolin banjo lines. 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). Prices subject to change without notice. Martin also made 1976 model D-76 guitars to partner the banjo. Many thanks to you and your friend Ron for putting me straight. so it does say Martin on the back and its vega on the front. It was one of the last batch of fourteen Wonder 5-stringers made in the USA before C.F. Barry. Any idea where I might find one? Where is the serial number on a Vega banjo? - chroniclesdengen.com Great sound and in excellent condition. Barry. A total of 98 model D-76E guitars were also made for employees. From the BRC, Barry. The inside of the rim has a R-D-136 in white. Maybe, the R-D prefix stands for Research and Development. The Banjo Rehabilitation Center archives contain the serial numbers and dates of manufacture of the Vega-Martin banjos made in Nazareth, PA, during the 1970`s. Martin purchased Vega in May of 1970, and production transitioned from Boston to Nazareth, PA. The two legendary musicians in the camp photo are banjo godfather Tony Trischka and Grammy award winner Eric Weissberg. vega banjo identification Being unable to find anything on the internet, I began to think I had been scammed. 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. 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. There were several old tenor and plectrum Martin neck blanksfor sale a few years ago, but it looks to be factory made condition anddoubt that would be likely a source. 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. Shop today! If this banjo has some more of the early prewar design features, add $1000-1500.Hope this helps, Dr. Ron. 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 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. The tiny screws adjacent to it are an adaptation by the Vega franchise to afford fine-tuning of the side-to-side alignment of the neck. Being a low end instrument, the early FR-5 model had no connecting rod. The problem is that the serial number labels at this time had printing errors, where the first numeric digit was omitted. Thanks for your post and happy pickin`, Barry. Ive attached a photo of that Coat of Arms resonator next to my Vox Vit was a spare they had made for Eddie Peabody. The Vega banjos in the TMC catalogue were identified by serial numbers only with no model titles or nicknames. Martin built only 29 model T-2 instruments which were a reproduction of the classic Tu-Ba-Phone No. He on his banjo and me with my guitar. I have attached photos comparing the label printing difference. Good luck, thanks much for your post, and great to hear from you again, Barry. It has only a tape serial number inside the pot of 1124. You banjo parts were probably shipped in 1977 to Japan for assembly where all serial number assignments were in disarray. post . It retailed for $775 and was probably assembled from parts left over from Nazareth, PA. Martin- Thank you for your query and very useful photos. 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. Thanks for your very kind words about the BRC website. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC recently showcased an exhibit of pre-1900 Martin guitars. In the 1972 Martin catalogue, the Professional appears identical to yours, but it is absent from the 1976 catalogue. It looked like it belonged on a Gibson. VINTAGE VEGA TENOR BANJO, 1930, RESONATOR, 19 FRET, CLEAN. It`s a sweet long neck, and I wish I had one. If you had a picture archive, Id be happy to post some pictures. vega banjo identification. Fender Standard Banjo Hardshell Case Black chuya document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for your query to the BRC and the abovephoto link. 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. I call him Rory, although much louder he has a beautiful rich tone, but is quite punchy.. 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).
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