A little history of Vega | Martin tenor banjos

When C. F. Martin Co. bought the Vega banjo line in May of 1970, hundreds of parts were inherited from the Needham Heights factory near Boston. For several years, the Vega Martin banjo was an amalgam of parts from Massachusetts and Nazareth, PA. Old 6 digit Vega serial numbers persisted on a yellow sticker on the inner pot until production was moved to Pennsylvania in 1972.

Thereafter, C. F. Martin installed a serial number decal on the inner rim beginning with #2  and on through #1945.  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). The company was sold to Galaxy Trading Co. in March 1979.

Features:

• Maple neck with sunburnt finish
• 19 fret ebony fretboard with mop dot position markers and ivory plastic bond fret board sides
• original Elton “pancake” tuners
• Vega logo mop
• 1/2″ maple triple ply rim surrounded by nickel plated flange similar to Vega Vox design.
• 5/8″ nickel plated tension hoop
• Resonator in sunburnt finish
• Comes with quality hard shell case

SOLD

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This rare Bacon Style C short scale tenor banjo (17 frets) is in immaculate condition. Original varnish throughout, no dings, dents or repairs, the frets are even original with plenty of life left in them. Solid five-piece centre-strip maple neck with multi-ply maple rim and nice maple veneer walls and cream binding strips along fretboard sides. The neck is straight and true and the action is superb and fast. Has newly installed quality geared tuners (not the cheap far east type), Kershner style tailpiece with adjustment screw to apply downward pressure on the bridge. Newly installed 11″ clear WeatherKing head that gives this little Bacon the power and brightness of a professional level hand made banjo. Heavy notched 1/2″ tension hoop over a spun nickel tone ring. The shoes, hooks and nuts are also the heavy type as seen on Gibson and Vega banjos making this banjo weigh in at 3kg. These banjo sometimes come with the Elton nickel plated spin-on / spin-off resonator (as an extra) similar to orpheum banjos. I have fitted a matching maple resonator which helps boast an already great sound. Setup for trad or jazz playing with new maple/ebony bridge and nickel strings and comes with original case in good solid condition. Easy to remove resonator so can be played as an open back if preferred.

For Sale £595