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It was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1973 per shop order # 2154. Martin purchased the Vega brand in May of 1970, the Martin factory in Nazareth, PA, began to re-tool for banjo production. 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. Hi guys, great website. Id love to learn more about it, etc. VEGA Vegaphone 'Professional' Tenor Banjo $2,328.30 $131.44 shipping or Best Offer 19 watching Vega Style N Tenor Banjo $799.00 $83.00 shipping or Best Offer 20's Bacon/Day/Vega 4 String Banjo Groovers, Oettinger Tailpiece $3,777.77 Free shipping Vintage Vega Wonder Plectrum 4 String Banjo With Hard Shell Case $1,161.96 Was: $1,399.95 By the mid 1960`s, it was usually manufactured with a connecting rod. Because so few Pro-5`s were manufactured in Nazareth, it is difficult to gauge the worth of your banjo these days. You banjo parts were probably shipped in 1977 to Japan for assembly where all serial number assignments were in disarray. I then discovered my Vega VIP Martin 1972 model #1766, a beautiful banjo which I have played for the past 12 years. In the final VM 1976 catalogue, the F-VIP is displayed in full advertising detail. Martin manufactured 561 VW-5 banjos but only 124 FW-5 instruments. I cant remember exactly when I bought it but I think it was around the early 70s. The 1971-72 VM log books show 22 VIP banjos (most 5-stringers with a few tenor and plectrums) bearing the 6 digit Boston serial numbers, and thereafter the SN`s convert to digits #1 through #1969. Wim, (Ed.- Note the classic Tubaphone tone ring. It has no rod in the drum. 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 Vega Vox IV of that era featured burnished gold-plated parts, engraved flanges, an all white pyralin deep resonator with elaborately engraved back and sides, a fretboard with fancy pearl inlays, and an engraved and colored scroll shaped peg head. 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. Inside your device. FAIRBANKS BANJO MANDOLINE. I just acquired a second, SN#990 with the dog-bone tone ring. Martin workshop logbook, open back Tu-Ba-Phone 5-string banjo SN 1707 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1976. Your 5-stringer serial #993 is one of six Pro-5`s manufactured per Shop Order # 2211 in mid 1974 by C.F. Typically, the number would be preceded with an A (indicating an adjustable truss rod) followed by a six-digit number. Martin made 101 of the PS-5 instruments which listed for $488 without case in the final V/M price list in 1971. Per my files, the Pete Seeger long neck first appears in a Vega flyer in 1961 for $309. I dont know much about banjos because Im a guitar man myself. Martin sold the Vega brand to the Asian conglomerate Galaxy Trading Company in March of 1979. 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. Informacje o Martin V730 StringsVega struny banjo 5str 10-23,10 - 11109713090 w archiwum Allegro. Hence, my theory is that this ornate banjo was assembled overseas after Martin began shipping parts to Japan and Canada for assembly in 1976, and this would explain the mysterious serial number. Prices subject to change without notice. Yes, the VVI banjos have the same inlay pattern as the VM Pro (Professional) 5 string model. Nowadays, the Pro-5 would fetch around $1000-$1500 depending on condition. Martin did not publish suggested retail prices after 1971, but I would estimate the V-76 sold for around $7-800 with case. According to the C.F. They all had yellow serial number stickers. Vega banjos were then marketed in the USA by TMC (Targ & Dinner Music Company). 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 On the back side of your device. my Martin/Vega PS5 #481 is about a month into my possession. Please take detailed photos of your banjo inside and outside. 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). My guess is that most of the left-over parts from near your home in Massachusettes were used up over the next ensuing 7 years of production, but there is an outside chance that a few spare parts like an occasional tonering survived and were transferred to Galaxy when it purchased Vega in 1979. The Vega franchise was sold overseas in 1979 but reacquired in the US by Deering in 1989. If you want a more Bluegrass sound, try a 5-Star head from Stew Mac. I have photos.Serial No. The resonator was hand-painted, and fancy engraved pearl inlays adorned the ebony fingerboard. 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`. It retailed for $345 in the 1971 Vega Martin price list. 1930 Vega Tenor Banjo - Pure Banjo Dick- Thank you for being a frequent reader of the BRC website. Barry. It listed for $1310 in the 1971 VM price brochure and a carved heel was extra. Ive taken a number of hi-res photostoo many to attach to email. The larger connecting rod inside the pot is a spare part inherited from the Boston days of the Vega company. 96.90 postage. Idoubt it matches the rim, unless they changed from a plectrum to tenor atlast minute. Can you identify this rare Vega Martin banjo just by the peghead markings? Theres barely a mark on the banjo (except for the binding where it was put on a stand) and this will probably buff out. The Vega Ultra Vox V is among the rarest of the limited, special order edition banjos made by either Vega of Boston or Martin. Im trying to decide wether to keep it as a memento, keep it and take some lessons, or possibly sell it because its a shame to have it sit in storage. thanks for the very informative web site Thanks for your very kind words about the BRC website. C.F. On the inner rim of the back cover is another Martin logo and the (embossed in white) number 887. Retail price was $1300.00 ; I paid $900.00 . The circular connecting rod is left over from the Vega inventory and shipped from Boston to Nazareth after C. F. Martin acquired the brand in May of 1970. 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. Steve in Oz, April 24, 2016 at 1:23 pmSteve- Thanks for your post and glad to hear that a `Wonder` banjo made it `Down Under` during the Vega Martin era. Martin in Nazareth, PA. 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. Tim, Tim- Thanks much for your query. vega banjo Archives - Seeders Instruments Hello. Martin- Thank you for your query and very useful photos. Where is the serial number on a Vega banjo? I cannot find any pictures remotely close online. With appreciation, Barry. Your Wonder-5 string banjo #(Martin)130097 was made in Boston in early 1971 after C.F. 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 only serial number is 1120. Another side note, Greg Deering has made two prototype Voxes alreadyI have played one of them, which is basically an identical design to the 1967 Vox I with a paddle peghead and crown inlays. Both of these models had block mother of pearl inlays, with fewer inlays appearing on the new scaled-down Pro fretboard. I admire the amount of effort youve put into helping the community of banjo enthusiasts I ve got serial # 129 , a 22 fret ,27 scale plectrum in for a set up..any info.about date of manufacture,potential value, and other pertinent details would be appreciatedthanks.. BRC Banjo Replies:July 14, 2016 at 1:13 pm, Darryl- Thank you for your kind comments about the BRC website. Thanks for your post and happy pickin`, Barry. vega banjo identification. Cobra hooks first appear circa 1881 on Fairbanks & Cole banjos. I gave alot of money for this, just hoping a made a decent deal. 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. There is a star on the 5th fret. Your 5 stringer is cited only as Item VDX75C in the 1979 TMC catalog where to retailed for $475. Can you tell me about it? The build quality is quite immaculate, both wood and hardware. The Pro-5 does not appear in the 1976 Vega Martin catalogue. After a loooong wait I finally got it in 1971 . Vega Banjos for Sale, New and Used Search Agent: Get notified when new ads meet your criteria! Allen screws at the neck/pot junction and a tube connecting rod (not shown) are design features from the 1960`s in Boston . The Life & Times of the Pete Seeger 5-string Folk Banjo - 1958 - 1970. The tone ring really had me confused! When C.F. Let me know if you might have any questionsI really appreciate the work youre doing here. The last two Vox Vs (serial numbers 1964-1965) were built in 1979, and still exist to this day. P.S. Joshua- Send me some detailed photos of your banjo inside and out. Barry, I have purchased a Martin Vega V-45 described as 1971 production and a serial number of #327. so it does say Martin on the back and its vega on the front. This is an early and very nice example of the classic Vega . The C.F. Of course she did a beautiful job with it including turning its blond color into a brunette! MUSCELL Banjo Strings, Handmade Phosphor Bronze 5-String Banjo Strings Ball End - 3 Packs Medium. The smaller one has 2 small set screws installed on either side of the rod to adjust the neck heel . 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. Martin decals on the inner rim and back of the peghead. After Martin purchased Vega in 1970, the factory transitioned from Needham Heights to Nazareth, PA. Barry, I want to thank you very much for the research on my Vega. All original except the tailpiece cracked at the bend not long after I got it, and I replaced it with the Stew-Mac version. 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). The Folk Wonder is an open-back banjo that features a maple neck, a white bound ebony fretboard with pearl dots, and geared pegs in the headstock. These days, the banjo would probably fetch around $1000 if marketed online. Hey, Ive got a Martin Vega Tubaphone 5 string banjo sn# 1603 that I acquired in the mid-1980s. The Seeger endorsed 5-stringer had the famous Vega Tube-a phone tone ring, a three piece ebony fingerboard, pearl dots, a neck-tension rod, a 10 ply maple rim, and a brass bracket band and notched tension hoop. Martin stamp. Martin decal photographed on the back of the VIP Vega peg head. In the final Martin price listed published in 1971, it listed for $345 without case. These data were generously provided to the BRC founder in 2000 by the family owned Martin Guitar department of history. Any idea where I might find one? From the BRC, Barry. Your aunt`s banjo sounds like a stock model, so I would estimate that it would fetch $400-$700 on the open market. The resonator back and sidewall colored engravings are probably the key feature that might bring more value than lessthere were two likely designs at this time a tiffany-style web pattern with a floral vine on the side (first used in 1930) or the late 1940s Indian blanket Art Deco design.I have an original 1948 model that has the older style neck, with the new resonator designso , its a mixed bag during this time as Vega was experimenting with parts off the shelf when banjo sales were extremely low (maybe 20 per year) and their focus was on guitar and ukulule production instead.Pricing for 4 strings (and 5 strings) have dropped considerably over last 2-3 years for vintage banjosVoxes have held more than others. In the Martin price list of 1971, it is listed at $488 without case. In addition to the unusual R-D-136 serial number, the C.F. Vega Martin banjo SN 1795 was one of three special order V-45 5-string banjos manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1977 per Shop Order 2335. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for your query to the BRC and the abovephoto link. Hope this helps, and all the best picking, Barry. Vega Regent Model 5 String Banjo (1925), made in Boston, Mass., natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.