Vega

This most likely previously four-string tenor has had a conversion to 5-string banjo by way of some ecumenical counseling and also the addition of a newer 5-string neck by Providence Guitar & Banjo.  If one is seeking access to the induplicable sound of a prewar Vega Tubaphone No. 3 but without having to spend the nearly four thousand dollars required to gain entrance to the emporium of ecstasy-effulgent 5-string euphoria, this would unquestionably be the banjo of choice.

Paraphrased loosely from the Vega web site with only a small amount of added sarcasm (sorry, can’t help it): The Vega Tu-Ba-Phone tone ring (introduced in 1909) five-string is unquestionably one of the most important musical achievements of the last hundred or so years. Touted by some as the ultimate open-back banjo sound, although Whyte Laydie lovers do take umbrage, it is prized for its full, round and yet sparkling tone and for its depth, responsiveness and power.

We present to you one of the highest grades of Vega banjo known to exist – the Number 7 Whyte Laydie.   Fancy of appointment and aristocratically ornamented, and touting the world renowned scalloped brass tone ring that bears its name, this is the type of banjo plectrum players yearn to find their entire lives.    That’s the good part.   In reality, however, this banjo has a number of issues – one of the most important of which is that somebody has refinished the back of the neck in glossy sunburst, another of which are the small sections of missing binding.

The tenor banjo is the most popular member of the four-string banjo family. It is tuned C G D A just like a mandola, a viola or a tenor guitar. It provides the alto voice to the jazz band and excels at both rhythm and lead functions About the banjo our beloved friend, Wikipedia, says: “In almost all of its forms, banjo playing is characterized by a fast arpeggiated plucking, though there are many different playing styles.” Did you know that? I didn’t know that.

This is a very attractive mandolin-banjo, and, we have to say, rather unusual. This instrument has a very playable neck - and it is quite loud.  Finding a resonator back, Tubaphone-tone-ring equipped Professional quality (it’s gotta be, since that’s what it’s called) mandolin-banjo is not something that happens every day around here.   Mandolin-banjo players arise – your ride is here!  

The Little Wonder is one of Vega’s prewar open-back models. It has a “rolled bead” of brass that acts as a small yet effective variation on a tone ring providing the instrument’s sound more punch and drive. It has 28 brackets, shoes and nuts (the sign reads “no brackets and shoes, no service”) and, guess what, 28 screws and washers. It has the standard Vega internal tensioner device holding the maple wooden dowel firmly to the underside of the heel, and the nickel-plated brass cube at the bottom.

This example has the fairly standard 11 15/16” diameter head, which has been replaced with a frosted-on-the-face Mylar mama. We don’t see very many resonator-backed Whyte Laydies and we don’t see many full scale ones either.  This is, then a fantastic opportunity for some lucky future owner since it’s both clean, capable and affordable. 

A short scale tenor banjo has 17 frets; it was made for semi-professional musicians with small hands.  Nowadays the players of Scots and Irish music prefer this type of banjo.   

Behold an actualVega Pete Seeger model from the mid to late 1960s, but with no long yellow rectangular paper label inside the rim, which printed and hand-written label contained the serial number and model name. This is a shame, but name or not it is in every way the bona fide famous Pete Seeger model.

This is certainly a rare and unusual instrument – putting it another way we have not seen any others in our 37 years in business. The black, flat pickup with the eight raised pole pieces measures approximately 3 ¾” by 1 ¾”. This pickup is covered by a two piece curved, chrome plated cover that so greatly resembles the cover on a Rickenbacker Electro or Frying Pan lap steel that we wonder whether Vega contracted with Rickenbacker to get their pickup and cover.  Our Price WAS $1747 but was recently lowered to:  

This version of the quintessential prewar original 5-string open back Vega bears the “Fairbanks by” stamp on the dowel that Vega used from 1910 to 1925. There is extensive heel carving, a gryphon, star & acorn inlaid headplate;  the head diameter is 10 15/16” and the scale length is 27 1/8”. This banjo sounds incredibly good – full of acoustic warmth, lush sonority and the magical melodiousness of the Roaring ‘20s.  WAS $4943 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR: 

This banjo, which bears the illustrious Whyte Laydie tone ring, has a generous head diameter of 11 7/8".  This is the perfect head size for conversion to a Round Peak old time clawhammer banjo, and this is easily obtained by simply adding a 5-string replica neck. This example has the pie plate flat resonator with one screw at the center inside back; said resonator shows a few normal scratches.THIS WAS $3087 WITH A CASH PRICE OF $2995 BUT IT IS NOW ON SALE (BIG TIME - A THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS):