Hope this helps and thanks again for your post. 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. This model appears in the 1972 and 1976 catalogues. 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. This design of banjo retailed for $285 back then, and it was popularized by Erik Darling and Pete Seegar (who had his own Vega endorsed model for awhile). It first appeared in 1923 and was also the first Vega with the scrambled eggs inlay and the Vega name in the headstock.Although the Vegaphone is supposed to have a maple neck - and the tenors do, most Vegaphone plectrums have surplus Tubaphone Style 3 necks in mahogany with carved heels. In the Martin SN files, banjo #1302252 manufactured in 1971 is designated as a BJF-5 (Pro) style instrument. The rim is 10 ply maple with a top metal tone ring, nickel-plated metal parts, and a shaded mahogany finish. 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. Id appreciate your comments please & thanks, Linda. They are on the second and 3rd strings and allow that Buck Trent kind of thing. The Vega franchise was sold overseas in 1979 but reacquired in the US by Deering in 1989. As C.F. C.F. Every Martin Vega I have seen has a more dark brown mahogany-colored stain. Fantastic site with wonderful information. Your tenor 4-stringer was built in early 1972 per Shop Order 2051. Although mostly a collector`s item these days, the current price range of the V-76 is $2.3-5K. I has Vega and a single star on the front of the headstock. It is number E-5 in a limited edition of 16 instruments made in 1976. The last two Vox Vs (serial numbers 1964-1965) were built in 1979, and still exist to this day. It is a Vega Martin model VW-5 called a Vega Wonder and sometimes referred to as the Wonder-5. Age differences in the instruments might alsoalter the wood tones. So heres my question. 1519. 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 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. Galaxy went bankrupt in a few years, and the Vega brand was purchased in 1989 by Deering in California who restored the instrument line to greatness. If this banjo has some more of the early prewar design features, add $1000-1500.Hope this helps, Dr. Ron. from BRC: Wim- Thanks for the great photo of your busy workshop. Wim, (Ed.- Note the classic Tubaphone tone ring. These were used on the Wonder, VIP,Folklore, etc (non-Pro II, V-45, V-41 styles). Its also featuring the two small hexagon bolts inside the rim (Quite handy for fine-centering the neck! Barry. Thanks again for your query. Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. Tom- Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your instrument. Your Wonder-5 string banjo #(Martin)130097 was made in Boston in early 1971 after C.F. Save This Search Your search returned 20 results View Sold and Expired Ads Matching Your Search post . S.C.- Thank you for your query to the BRC. According to the C.F. thanks for your help and keep up the good work. Theres precious little information about these instruments online. Unbeknownstto most 5 string aficionados, the Martin Guitar Company manufactured Vega banjos from 1970 through 1979. Any and all information you may have on my little banjo will be greatly appreciated! The number will be 6-12 digits long depending on what year it was made. The Vega Regent is one of the classic 5-string banjos of the Vega line. It is veryinteresting that it has the non-ebonized finish on the peghead cap, whichcoincided with the move production to Nazareth (adopting stained rosewood asthey used on the guitars). Of note, banjo SN 136 manufactured in 1972 was a Vega Vox I plectrum and not a 5-stringer like yours. Informacje o Martin V740 StringsVega strun banjo RETRO 10-23,10 - 11109692503 w archiwum Allegro. From the BRC site this banjo was made circa 1975-1976 in and around Nazareth PA. Do I have the have the provenance correct? Nowadays, it might fetch around $750 in the online marketplace. Barry, Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. The Vega Vox model was a 4 string gem that featured a brass tone ring. If you could give me your thought about what its worth, I would appreciate it. Best wishes for happy pickin`, Barry, I have an Vega 5-string banjo, open back, bought around 1965. Q: At what point did Vega go from ball end to open end bracket nuts? By my count, Martin made 16 V-45 banjos that were 5-stringers, 3 plectrums (V45-P), and one (V45-T) tenor model. 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. Prices subject to change without notice. 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. In my files, the PS-5 is seen in a Vega (Boston) flyer in 1961 where it lists for $309. vega banjo identification. Martin logbook, banjo SN 1450 was an entry level Wonder model 4 string plectrum banjo made in 1975. Barry, Marc- Thanks much for the prompt and telling photos. Jim _Thanks for your query. The Eddie Peabody Model was actually made by Vega of Boston from 1966-ca. vega banjo identification. I have sent an e-mail to my Vega Vox consultant Dr. Ron and await his comments and appraisal. Please take detailed photos of your banjo inside and outside. 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. I also did replace all of the cheapish plastic knobs with ivoroid ones of much better quality. Thanks from all of us! Your 5 string model was featured in the subsequent 1979 TMC Vega catalogue as an instrument similar to old style Vega Tu- Ba-Phone No.9.. banjo, and it listed then for $1250. what I know about banjos right now I learned from you!! Andreas- Thank you for the historical narrative on your banjo and the detailed photographs. On the inner rim of the back cover is another Martin logo and the (embossed in white) number 887. I tried to find your email address at your Banjo homepage without any success. The Galaxy serial number is not a continuum of the Martin serial number sequence. The V-41 was available by special order only, and it listed back then for $850. An example of one of these 4-stringers from the 1920`s is still in the C.F. Serial number 115831 on a yellow strip built in Boston Mass.Wondering when it might have been built? Serial number assignment and record keeping fell into disarray from 1977 to 1979. 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. I call him Rory, although much louder he has a beautiful rich tone, but is quite punchy.. 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). I actually picked up a banjo that had a resonator that was sitting on the shelf in that 1970-72 period as Martin was transitioning and shutting down the factory there. 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. We've been notified and are looking into it. my Martin/Vega PS5 #481 is about a month into my possession. It is in pristine condition and is clearly a very high quality instrument. Vega Banjos for Sale, New and Used Search Agent: Get notified when new ads meet your criteria! I cannot find any pictures remotely close online. The Vega Vox model was a 4 string gem that featured a brass tone ring. C.F. Vega Martin SN 1199 is one of five VIP-T (tenor) banjos made per shop order # 2233 in late 1974 in Nazareth, PA. Im not very knowledgable about banjos so please forgive my terminology. It has no rod in the drum. With appreciation, Barry. Jim, Jim -Thanks for your query. A previous owner had deeply scratched a Social Security number into its heel. I would like to know a little more about it. Deering now owns the Vega brand, and it is rumored that they may revive the deep resonator design. These days, the Wonder would sell for $700-$1000 depending on condition. It looks like a well-preserved and fun mid range banjo waiting to be enjoyed by an appreciative musician like yourself. Thanks again. "F" Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. Reply from our BRC consultant and Vega Vox scholar Dr. Ron: Looks like something that might have put together from parts, either insideor outside the factoryI suspect the latter as there have been lots of Voxchop shop conversions going back in time (even to the 1920s). 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. Martin decal, is the original pot for the plectrum 4 stringer SN 1450, but the neck was replaced after production with a 5 string neck by a previous owner. I have attached photos comparing the label printing difference. Your other VIP-5 with SN 1766 was assembled from parts sent to Japan in 1977 when the Martin company had its difficult luthier strike. 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. 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. Hope this helps and thanks for your post. Your VW-5 model Vega Wonder banjo SN 721 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in late 1973 per Shop Order 2181. Martin sold the Vega brand to the Asian conglomerate Galaxy Trading Company in March of 1979. 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. Deering Banjo Company now owns the Vega brand, and you might contact them regarding a custom device if you want parts within the historic Vega lineage. Its a Vega VIP with the Martin Co. logo on the back of the peg head. The melody banjo was the equivalent of a 4 string mandolin banjo. My Vega VIP has the Martin decal on the back of the headstock. senior living sun prairie, wi; blueberry sweet rolls joanna gaines; miguel cardona family; shooting in newport beach last night; st albans swim club drowning; where was the 3 godfathers filmed; southwest chicken bake; Thanks for letting us see this fascinating and unique instrument. Below are more Letters from the BRC Archives. Martin manufactured 100 Pro-5 banjos including the temporary Bobby Joe Fenster variation. Good luck, thanks much for your post, and great to hear from you again, Barry. 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. FAIRBANKS BANJO MANDOLINE. The VIP banjo last appeared in the 1976 VM catalog as an open back instrument but still featuring the V.I.P. CL. 28 de mayo de 2018. C.F. 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. In my files, the PS-5 model first appears in a 1961 Vega product flyer from Boston, but it may have been manufactured there starting in 1958. Id like to echo previous comments and thank you for a great, great website, chock full of useful information. 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. Photos are always welcome, and thanks for your post.