Fairbanks/Vega Tu-Ba-Phone Guitar Banjo (1921)
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Item # 10603
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Fairbanks/Vega Tu-Ba-Phone Model Guitar Banjo (1921), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 46090, natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a relatively rare Fairbanks/Vega Tu-ba-phone Guitar-Banjo, absolutely one of the best-sounding "Guit-jo's" ever made. Vega in Boston built these from the 1910s into the late '20s (initially under the Fairbanks name) but only in fairly small numbers compared to 5 and then 4 string banjos. This one was built a year or so before Vega finally discontinued marking them with the Fairbanks name
Although a fairly high-end instrument in the Fairbanks line the Tu-Ba-Phone guitar banjo carries less ornamentation than many of their models. The heavy laminated maple rim is finished in natural maple, fitted with the patented Fairbanks bracket band, tortoise celluloid edge capping and of course the incomparable tone ring that lends the model its name. The dowel is stamped "Tu-Ba-Phone" without any further style information and still carries the "Fairbanks Banjo by Vega" star stamp, as well as three patent markings. The natural-finished laminated maple neck has an ivoroid-bound ebony fingerboard inlaid with dots, small diamond and oblong shaped pearl pieces. The dyed pearwood headstock facing has just a single a star inlay.
The original Tu-Ba-Phone is always a very classy instrument; the top model of 6-string banjo Vega offered. This one is a fairly early example and is a relatively rare find. These 1920's Vegas, and particularly the top-of-the-line Tu-ba-phones, are as fine a openback banjo-guitar as has ever been made and great instruments for anything from vintage Jazz and Ragtime to Old-Time country styles.
"Play that thing, Mr. St Cyr!" - while with Louis Armstrong's Hot Five, Johnny St Cyr used a six-string Vega very similar to this one, as did New Orleans great Danny Barker for much of his career. This one has all the sound needed for everything from solo fingerpicking to small-group ragtime to orchestral jazz.
Overall length is 36 3/4 in. (93.3 cm.), 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 in. (660 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This "Git-jo" is in just lightly worn condition, one of the nicest of these 6-string gems we have had. It remains largely original, the only notable alteration being more modern (probably 1960s) Planet geared tuners installed in place of the original non-geared variety. There is some general wear overall, most notably to the finish on the back of the neck which is worn down to the wood along much of the spine.
The plating has light average wear but with the exception of the added geared tuners the hardware is original, including the special 6-string tailpiece and a full set of hooks and nuts. The fingerboard and frets remain original with some light wear and this instrument plays very well. It is set up with a newer plastic head and the original maple bridge. It includes a period hard case that is not an exact fit but generally functional. Excellent - Condition.
This is a relatively rare Fairbanks/Vega Tu-ba-phone Guitar-Banjo, absolutely one of the best-sounding "Guit-jo's" ever made. Vega in Boston built these from the 1910s into the late '20s (initially under the Fairbanks name) but only in fairly small numbers compared to 5 and then 4 string banjos. This one was built a year or so before Vega finally discontinued marking them with the Fairbanks name
Although a fairly high-end instrument in the Fairbanks line the Tu-Ba-Phone guitar banjo carries less ornamentation than many of their models. The heavy laminated maple rim is finished in natural maple, fitted with the patented Fairbanks bracket band, tortoise celluloid edge capping and of course the incomparable tone ring that lends the model its name. The dowel is stamped "Tu-Ba-Phone" without any further style information and still carries the "Fairbanks Banjo by Vega" star stamp, as well as three patent markings. The natural-finished laminated maple neck has an ivoroid-bound ebony fingerboard inlaid with dots, small diamond and oblong shaped pearl pieces. The dyed pearwood headstock facing has just a single a star inlay.
The original Tu-Ba-Phone is always a very classy instrument; the top model of 6-string banjo Vega offered. This one is a fairly early example and is a relatively rare find. These 1920's Vegas, and particularly the top-of-the-line Tu-ba-phones, are as fine a openback banjo-guitar as has ever been made and great instruments for anything from vintage Jazz and Ragtime to Old-Time country styles.
"Play that thing, Mr. St Cyr!" - while with Louis Armstrong's Hot Five, Johnny St Cyr used a six-string Vega very similar to this one, as did New Orleans great Danny Barker for much of his career. This one has all the sound needed for everything from solo fingerpicking to small-group ragtime to orchestral jazz.
Overall length is 36 3/4 in. (93.3 cm.), 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 in. (660 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This "Git-jo" is in just lightly worn condition, one of the nicest of these 6-string gems we have had. It remains largely original, the only notable alteration being more modern (probably 1960s) Planet geared tuners installed in place of the original non-geared variety. There is some general wear overall, most notably to the finish on the back of the neck which is worn down to the wood along much of the spine.
The plating has light average wear but with the exception of the added geared tuners the hardware is original, including the special 6-string tailpiece and a full set of hooks and nuts. The fingerboard and frets remain original with some light wear and this instrument plays very well. It is set up with a newer plastic head and the original maple bridge. It includes a period hard case that is not an exact fit but generally functional. Excellent - Condition.