Vega Vegaphone Artist Deluxe Model Tenor Banjo, manufactured 1927, made in Boston, Mass., serial #90730 shaded maple finish, flamed maple 3 piece neck, piecrust resonator with cream plastic side walls tastefully engraved and infilled in contrasting black. The centre of the resonator features a large cream ivoroid star tastefully engraved with the name ‘Vegaphone Deluxe’. The engraved flange is the four section type rather individual flange plates. This is a completely original example of one of the finest “Industry Standard” Orchestra tenor banjos from the 1920s, the Vegaphone Artist Deluxe (top of the line). Vega’s “Vegaphone” line was introduced in 1923 as an answer to the Paramount line of resonator-and-flange banjos. Essentially a long-scale tenor Tubaphone with a resonator and multi-flange system, the Vegaphones were an instant success, and along with the Paramounts established the basic design of the modern banjo. The Artist Deluxe is first in a 3-banjo line, although a fourth, the Soloist, was added below it not long after. The Artist was quite a high-priced instrument for the time, selling originally for $250.00. It features all of Vega’s high-grade construction features and fairly fancy decoration, including gold-plated metal parts and elaborate engraved pearl inlay on the headstock, fingerboard, and heel cap. All workmanship is to the highest level, as is common with Vega. There is elaborate engraved varied shaped pearl inlay in the heavy bound ebony fingerboard, with a 3-piece shaded maple neck featuring a carved heel and fancy pearl inlay heel cap. The pearl head plate inlay is Vega’s fanciest floral pattern also featuring the Vega star inlay on the back of the headstock. The original gold Planet tuners all work perfectly, holding tuning well and feature solid pearl buttons. The gold-plated Oettinger adjustable tension tailpiece has each arm engraved in turn “Vegaphone-Artist-Deluxe-155 Columbus Ave. -Boston”.

They are arguably the best-sounding instruments of their type ever made, and from the beginning were extremely popular with period jazz musicians and can be seen in many old photographs, as well as heard on literally thousands of early dance band and jazz recordings. Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 10 15/16 in. (27.8 cm.) diameter head, and 3 in. (7.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.). This banjo is in completely original condition.

The engraving is still crisp with very little wear on the fingerboard and the overall gold plating remains in good condition.  The banjo is currently available for sale and comes with it’s original vintage black leatherette case with plush green velvet inner lining.