Vega Artist Tenor Banjo

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This Vega Artist was hand built in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA in 1975 by the Martin Guitar Company. They manufactured a range of Vega models from 1970 through to 1979 with the ‘Artist’ being one of their top of the range models. Designed on the famous prewar Vega Artist deluxe the head stock features the elaborate inlay MOP which continues up the neck with beautiful position markers. The neck is three piece figured maple with ebony fret board and white binding up the sides and fancy MOP design on the ebony heel cap. There are a total of 20 frets and a scale length of 23″ which is the same as a 19 fret banjo, the action is set low and it plays beautifully from top to bottom. The back of the head stock has the Vega Artist design mother of pearl and the geared tuners are quality Gotoh type. The multiply maple rim is 1/2″ thick and is attached to the neck with dual coordinator rods. The banjo gets its sound from the tubaphone phone tone ring which had long lasting sustains with punchy mid tones and low bass. I have recently fitted a new renaissance head and a new Waverly tail piece. The chrome plated shoes are attached to a chrome rim which hold the flange plate and the 28 hooks and nuts. The resonator really sets this banjo off  which is constructed from 6 pie crust sections in beautiful figured maple and the little Vega star logo in the centre. The banjo comes with the original quality brown leatherette hard shell case with plush blue crushed velvet lining with centre pocket and in very good condition. Overall the banjo is in fine condition for an instrument of 40 years and looks to have been stored rather than played going by the non-fret wear. If you are looking for a modern banjo that has the looks, the branding and the sound, then look no further. SOLD