Thanks again for your query. The earliest reported is F&C #1000. "F" Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. I recently took my Dads 4 string banjo out of storage after approximately 25 years since his passing. Martin students believe that it was a market ploy to attract owners of the legendary Martin D-45 guitar to purchase a partner banjo, but the strategy did not succeed. The six digit Boston serial numbers were replaced by the Martin SN`s beginning with #2 in 1972. Your instrument is a tenor arch top 4-stringer made in the early 1980`s. To generally confirm that your banjo is a Nazareth built instrument, check for a C.F. It has the famous Vega `Tu-Ba-Phone` tone ring and notched tension hoop both made of bell brass, an ebony fingerboard, and a 10 ply maple rim. For Sale - Vega Earl Scruggs Banjo and Original hard case So happy to find this site. After a loooong wait I finally got it in 1971 . By my count, Martin made 16 V-45 banjos that were 5-stringers, 3 plectrums (V45-P), and one (V45-T) tenor model. Would appreciate any information you can provide to verify the model and any original cost/current value. It did not have a tone ring or simply a steel ring like the Wonder, to keep the cost down. pine valley golf auction; what happened to thelma from amen; roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in education; what happens when you meet your twin flame Martin built only 22 such instruments which featured a brass tone ring, gold-plating, an engraved tail piece, an ebony fretboard, and a mahogany neck. The only serial number is 1120. vega banjo Archives - Seeders Instruments Gold and ivory hard wear with a butterfly mop inlay on the back of the body. So, the rim and rods appear be from a Vox I, and dogbone Tubaphone tonering would be typical of the 1970s period under Martin (some the later Voxesmade by Vega in Needham Heights before moving to Nazareth used these, aswell as slotted Tubaphones). 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). Its a Vega VIP with the Martin Co. logo on the back of the peg head. They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. Well, this is a hybrid banjo, and doubtful that is a Galaxy banjo. Dave- Thank you for your kind words about the website and the narrative about your Vega Vox IV tenor banjo. If someone could help her post it on eBay, it would probably get a decent price and a good home. It retailed for $345 in the 1971 Vega Martin price list. 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. vega banjo identification - americanuzbekistan.org The flanges, tension hoop, tailpiece and extended armrest are deeply and elaborately engraved, and were originally finished in a special hardened 24K gold electroplate. From the BRC, Barry. Vega Banjo Serial Number Lookup Known Problems with Gretsch's Serial Number System: Due to the various renumbering schemes, there are Gretsch-built Bacons and B&D's with 3 digit, 4 digit and 5 digit serial numbers, which confuses identification of instruments made between 1910 and 1940.
vega banjo identification