1926 Vega Vegaphone Artist
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Vega Vegaphone Artist Model Tenor Banjo, manufactured 1926, made in Boston, Mass., serial #68809 shaded maple finish, flamed maple 3 piece neck, piecrust resonator with cream plastic side walls tastefully engraved and infilled in contrasting black. This is a completely original example of one of the finest “Industry Standard” Orchestra tenor banjos from the 1920s, the Vegaphone Artist. 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 is second 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 heelcap. All workmanship is to the highest level, as is common with Vega. The pie-section resonator back has beautifully shaded figured maple sections and a tortoise celluloid-bound outer edge. 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. The pearl headplate inlay is Vega’s fanciest floral pattern and the headstock carries gold Grover tuners with grained ivoroid buttons. The gold-plated Oettinger adjustable tension tailpiece has each arm engraved in turn “Vegaphone-Artist-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 photos show a 5 star head but this vega will be sold with a new Remo renaissance head, which is more flavourable with Irish trad playing. The engraving is still crisp with very little wear on the fingerboard and the overall gold plating remains in good condition. The photos depict its condition when it arrived with myself so I’ll upload some more when it has has a proper clean & polish and new setup. The banjo is currently available for sale and comes with a vintage brown leatherette case with plush red velvet inner lining. For Sale £2300