Vega Vegaphone Artist Tenor Banjo (1926)
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Vega Vegaphone Artist Model Tenor Banjo (1926), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 75041, shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck, rim and resonator; ebony fingerboard, period black hard shell case.
This is a lovely original example of one of the finest "Industry Standard" Orchestra tenor banjos from the 1920s, the Vegaphone Artist. The head and bridge are later, but all else is as it left the factory nearly 100 years ago. Vega's "Vegaphone" line was introduced in 1923 as an answer to the revolutionary Paramount 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 elements of nearly all modern banjos.
The Artist was originally the middle model in a 3-banjo line, although a fourth, the Soloist, was added below it not long after. This 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. The gold-plated Oettinger adjustable tension tailpiece has each arm engraved in turn "Vegaphone-Artist-155 Columbus Ave.-Boston".
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 with no logo, and the headstock carries gold Grover 2-tab tuners with genuine pearl buttons.
These Vegaphone banjos have more of a timelessly classy air than many of their celluloid-swathed peers, with the old-line flavor of their 5-string Fairbanks ancestors continued into the flashier jazz age. They are arguably the best-sounding instruments of their type ever made, and from the beginning were extremely popular with period jazz and dance orchestra musicians and can be seen in many old photographs, as well as heard on literally thousands of early dance band and jazz recordings. These Vegaphones sold in decent numbers so are not particularly rare but for the build and aesthetic quality are simply one of the best bargains today in ANY vintage instrument!
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 beautiful original condition, albeit with a nicely done refret and modern plastic head. It shows some general wear overall but the thin shaded varnish finish remains largely intact with only some light checking, dings, dents and light rubs; the resonator back and the back of the neck are cleaner than most. The elaborate pearl engraving is still crisp with only minor wear on the fingerboard. The gold plating on the flanges, hoop, tailpiece and tuners still shining, with the hooks and especially the armrest showing more corrosion and loss.
The banjo looks to have been neatly refretted long ago with wire just a bit larger than the original, showing little subsequent wear. This Artist plays and sounds great, a real time capsule back to the "Roaring '20's". It is housed in a period HSC, not an exact fit but possibly with it since new nonetheless. This banjo is really a stunner and one of the nicest tenors we have had in a while. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a lovely original example of one of the finest "Industry Standard" Orchestra tenor banjos from the 1920s, the Vegaphone Artist. The head and bridge are later, but all else is as it left the factory nearly 100 years ago. Vega's "Vegaphone" line was introduced in 1923 as an answer to the revolutionary Paramount 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 elements of nearly all modern banjos.
The Artist was originally the middle model in a 3-banjo line, although a fourth, the Soloist, was added below it not long after. This 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. The gold-plated Oettinger adjustable tension tailpiece has each arm engraved in turn "Vegaphone-Artist-155 Columbus Ave.-Boston".
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 with no logo, and the headstock carries gold Grover 2-tab tuners with genuine pearl buttons.
These Vegaphone banjos have more of a timelessly classy air than many of their celluloid-swathed peers, with the old-line flavor of their 5-string Fairbanks ancestors continued into the flashier jazz age. They are arguably the best-sounding instruments of their type ever made, and from the beginning were extremely popular with period jazz and dance orchestra musicians and can be seen in many old photographs, as well as heard on literally thousands of early dance band and jazz recordings. These Vegaphones sold in decent numbers so are not particularly rare but for the build and aesthetic quality are simply one of the best bargains today in ANY vintage instrument!
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 beautiful original condition, albeit with a nicely done refret and modern plastic head. It shows some general wear overall but the thin shaded varnish finish remains largely intact with only some light checking, dings, dents and light rubs; the resonator back and the back of the neck are cleaner than most. The elaborate pearl engraving is still crisp with only minor wear on the fingerboard. The gold plating on the flanges, hoop, tailpiece and tuners still shining, with the hooks and especially the armrest showing more corrosion and loss.
The banjo looks to have been neatly refretted long ago with wire just a bit larger than the original, showing little subsequent wear. This Artist plays and sounds great, a real time capsule back to the "Roaring '20's". It is housed in a period HSC, not an exact fit but possibly with it since new nonetheless. This banjo is really a stunner and one of the nicest tenors we have had in a while. Overall Excellent Condition.