This item has been sold. Every Martin Vega I have seen has a more dark brown mahogany-colored stain. FAIRBANKS BANJO MANDOLINE. Wow, I glad to find your website! My Vega F-VIP #1456 got chosen from the 72 catalogue in spring of 76 in a music shop in Stuttgart / Germany, and was delivered only about ten weeks later. William- Thanks for your post. It look and plays great. Jim, Jim -Thanks for your query. 2 Vega banjo from the early Boston era. . Unbeknownstto most 5 string aficionados, the Martin Guitar Company manufactured Vega banjos from 1970 through 1979. Martin built only 101 PS-5 long necks. Its a Vega VIP with the Martin Co. logo on the back of the peg head. Hope this helps. vega banjo identification. 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. Learning how to play the banjo is no different. Vega/Fairbanks open-back banjo designs are exemplary classics. Further investigation related to your comments in the abovefirst paragraph might shed some light on the wood tone finish differences. $42 USD. Could you tell me where it was built and what its value is today ? 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. There were forty-six Vega Martin V-45 banjos made of similar design, but the hardware was gold-plated. After a loooong wait I finally got it in 1971 . Can you tell me about it? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. My Dad & I went to our music lessons back to back on Thursday evenings during my teen years some 40 years ago. Id like to echo previous comments and thank you for a great, great website, chock full of useful information. 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. The finish was shaded mahogany, and the metal rim parts were nickel plated. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for your query to the BRC and the abovephoto link. Tim, Tim- Thanks much for your query. Thank you for all the information. Again, thanks for your query and photos. Search online for Earl Scruggs Vega Banjo Images, and you will see a photo of him with his endorsed Vega instrument bearing the signature square inlays on the neck that offered its distinctive stage appearance. Your Vega Martin VIP-5 with SN 845 was made in Nazareth, PA, in 1974 as one of four manufactured per Shop Order #2193, and it sold for $556 without case in the 1971 price list (after which VM did not publish recommended retail prices). vega banjo identification. So, your banjo is likely either a late 1963/early 1964 model (Vega model years ran from Oct 1st-Sept 30th at the time, much like automobiles). The Voxes have endured a bit more that others in the market place, however. You are so kind to provide this great info to all of us banjo geeks. Bob- Thank you for your kind words about my website, and I reply with compliments to your luthier shop with which I am familiar. 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. 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). 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. Thank you so much!! Your 5 stringer is cited only as Item VDX75C in the 1979 TMC catalog where to retailed for $475. Home; Meet Darlene; ISI Mission; What is Coaching? It looked like it belonged on a Gibson. They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. It is indeed a sweet banjo with plenty of talk in it. A part of the C.F. Martin did not publish suggested retail prices after 1971, but I would estimate the V-76 sold for around $7-800 with case. I also did replace all of the cheapish plastic knobs with ivoroid ones of much better quality. C.F. vega banjo identification - Pamela Hudson There are different types of banjos and plenty of new terminology for parts of banjos and playing styles. The Vega Regent is one of the classic 5-string banjos of the Vega line. According to the C.F. I live near Portland, Oregon. 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. Thanks again for your time & consideration. I have recently acquired from Florida another VEGA Martin VIP model #845, which sounds totally different than the other 2, almost a rich full old timey sound yet with a resonator. Photos , BRC Replies To Samantha (November 23, 2019), Reply From Dr. Ron (the BRC Vega Vox/EddiePeabody consultant). Your 5-stringer serial #993 is one of six Pro-5`s manufactured per Shop Order # 2211 in mid 1974 by C.F. C.F. Thanks again. Galaxy went bankrupt around 1984 and vanished. 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. These days, my guess is that this 5 stringer is worth about $1500 or more depending on condition. Your Wonder-5 string banjo #(Martin)130097 was made in Boston in early 1971 after C.F. 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. In the Martin price list of 1971, it is listed at $488 without case. Good luck, thanks much for your post, and great to hear from you again, Barry. My VIP-5 is SN 1364 and was made about one year after your 5-stringer, and it has a nice mid range tone. Note the unique cluster of 3 sound apertures spaced around the tone ring of the below VIP-5 model owned by the BRC founder (SN 1364). 403.80. The label on the peg head reads Martin & Co and inside the rim reads Martin & Co and the number 993. Martin manufactured 561 VW-5 banjos but only 124 FW-5 instruments. Barry, Samantha Thanks for the extensive and helpful photos of your above banjo. In the Martin log book, the last six digit (Vega) serial number was 130392 in 1972 after which began the Martin digits. It looks identical to the one posted with photos on last July 8only difference is that mine does not have the Martin decal on the back of the peg head. Vega Banjos Serial Numbers - spheregenerous safety tips; prohibited items; product recalls; Vega Tenor Banjo and Case, 1920s | Reverb Oops, Something went wrong. The VIP-5 is known for its mellow sound, and the tone of my VIP-5 (SN 1364 circa 1974) was admired by a faculty member at a northeastern banjo camp a few years ago. Although mostly a collector`s item these days, the current price range of the V-76 is $2.3-5K. Cobra hooks first appear circa 1881 on Fairbanks & Cole banjos. 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. What is it worth today, and what did it sell for when new? 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. post . THE BRC THANKS YOU FOR VISITING THE VEGA MARTIN BANJO INFO PAGE. Martin- Thank you for your query and very useful photos. 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 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. Any ideas on contacts for such a beast? Thanks for your very kind words about the BRC website. Martin purchased the Vega brand line. Thank-you for your kind words about my website, and all blessings to you and yours this coming holiday season. First let me thank you for this amazing well of information! Shortly thereafter, the Martin craftsmen went on strike, and banjo parts were shipped overseas for assembly. Thanks you for this great site. An Original Fairbanks 5-String Banjo with a replaced ebony fingerboard and peg-head facing, with added appropriate pearl inlays. Buy VEGA Banjos and get the best deals at the lowest prices on eBay! Of note, my Vega Martin VIP-5 banjo built in 1975 also came with a `Care of Your Banjo` memo dated 8/26/71 and a warranty that instructed the owner to call 215-759-2837 and ask for Mike (probably Mike Longworth who was C.F. 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. The last Vega Martin banjo manufactured in Nazareth, PA, was SN 1969 as reportedly documented by a letter of authentication signed by C.F. There is a star on the 5th fret. 2 for $4149. He uses the one piece neck design typical of the other Deering models with the SN stamped on the back of the peghead. He could always check the stamp on the bottomthe tone ring to see if its a match to the rim (it should say V916). P.S. Martin manufactured 561 VW-5 banjos but only 124 FW-5 instruments. Also, I can send pictures, if this would help, or just be fun! My estimate is that the banjo might be worth $500-$700 depending on condition. Thanks! Any info including your estimate of current value would be very much appreciated. Thanks for sharing your fascinating banjo with the BRC, Barry. The Martin log book in Nazareth, PA, begins with #130248 later in 1971. Remo Frosted Top Banjo Head, 11 Inch Diameter, Medium Crown (7/16 Inch) $19 USD. 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 . Hey, Ive got a Martin Vega Tubaphone 5 string banjo sn# 1603 that I acquired in the mid-1980s. The V-45(5) featured a heavy one-piece flat head tone ring of brass so popular among Bluegrass pickers. Eric- Thanks for your kind comments about the website and prompt photos. It originally came with an arm rest, rotomatic tuning pegs, and a plastic head. I call him Rory, although much louder he has a beautiful rich tone, but is quite punchy.. 1929 Vega Tubaphone Longneck Conversion Banjo This banjo started its life in 1929 as a Vega Vegaphone tenor banjo.
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