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Its great that vintage instruments with such great build quality can still be purchased to this day. This is a near top of the line Vega Artist 19 fret tenor banjo. Vegaphone Artist tenor banjos are a very high level product and as such, few were sold, and few circulate today. The chosen woods in construction are top A grade fiddle maple or tiger maple.

Banjo details

Recently fitted and set up with a Remo 10-15/16″ clear head, three-piece maple neck with centre ebony strip, ivoroid-bound 19 fret ebony fingerboard with fancy engraved pearl inlays, 1-5/32″ nut width, ~22-15/16″ scale length. This banjo has 28 individual gold-plated flat flange pieces around the rim, brackets, hooks and nuts.  The back of the rim is capped with a ring of multicolored wood parquetry with “rope” (alternating light and dark) mosaic at center and red, crème and black lines and parallelograms surrounding it. “GROVER PAT.” geared tuners with pearl buttons, tortoise plastic-bound maple pie-crust resonator. The tailpiece is a “four-finger” Oettinger style and original, engraved on each of its fingers (individually) with “Artist, Vegaphone, The Vega Company, Boston.”

comes with original hard shell case (green lining), in very good restored condition (SN:)

Equipped with Tubaphone tone ring, extensive floral carving at the heel of the neck, elaborate, large floral fingerboard inlays which are hand etched and blackened to show details of the flower engravings. Large inlaid and etched star on the back of the headstock, and also an etched inlay on the heel cap. The neck is straight with good frets and low playing action. The original lacquer is in excellent condition as is the gold plating. Definitely both a players and collectors vintage banjo to own and be proud of.

For Sale £2200

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A great sturdy, strong sounding banjo with plenty of cut and sustain from the famous Epiphone range. This model comes 3rd in the range and almost identical in build to the Recording A model. Just recently set up for playing trad music, this banjo will stand out in a session. Good strong response & sustain from the low 38 gauge G string, loud and powerful 28 gauge D and the A & E equally deliver the tunes with great ease. I have added the Epiphone catalogue description below…

Banjo Details

The Epiphone Peerless stands unequalled in the popularity priced field. In tone it is close to the perfection of the recording models. In appearance it presents a pleasing colour combination of pearl Pyralin & walnut.

The five ply walnut neck has 3 holly and ebony veneers for strength and stability. The ebony fingerboard rests upon a multi-coloured veneer foundation, bound by white Pyralin and inset with genuine mother of pearl position markers. The head plate is of pearl Pyralin, engraved and artistically tinted.

The resonator is of multiply construction with a top veneer of American walnut, while inlaid purfling veneers of holly and ebony give and added decoration touch. The tone chamber is formed by means of a special tone ring that gives the Peerless a rich, vibrant and musical tone quality.

Comes with vintage case in good condition.

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