Vega Vegaphone Soloist Tenor Banjo (1929)
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Item # 5530
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Vega Vegaphone Soloist Model Tenor Banjo (1929), made in Boston, shaded maple finish, laminated maple rim, neck and resonator, original black hard shell case.
A good playing example of one of the finest "Industry Standard" Orchestra tenor banjos from the 1920's. The Vegaphone line was essentially a long-scale Tubaphone with a resonator, and the Soloist was the second model in a 4-banjo line. The Soloist was solidly professionally priced, selling originally for $200.00 with Vega's high-grade construction features and a medium-fancy level decoration. Many parts were gold-plated including the hoop, tuners and multi-piece flange (with "Pat. Apl. For." marked on one flange piece). The soloist is unusual in featuring a mix of gold and nickel plated hardware. The pie-section resonator with beautifully shaded figured maple sections and white celluloid outer edge. There is engraved varied pearl inlay in the bound ebony fingerboard, with a 3-piece shaded maple neck. The pearl headstock inlay is Vega's fanciest floral pattern with the logo on a banner in the center. The gold-plated Oettinger tailpiece has individual arms engraved with "Vegaphone Soloist" and the company's Boston address. These Vegaphone banjos were extremely popular with period Jazz musicians and can be seen in many period photographs.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 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 3/16 in. (30 mm.). A well played banjo, but with plenty of life left! No damage or repair but there is finish and plating wear overall, including scratches to the back of the resonator, wear spots through the varnish to the back of the neck, spotting on the flange pieces, armrest and heavy plating loss to some of the hooks. The frets are well worn but still quite playable, the fingerboard and engraved inlay well preserved. Hardware is original and complete except for one Oettinger tailpiece tension screw is a period replacement and one of the tuner grommets is missing. A very fine sounding banjo, set up with a period skin head-then as now one of the top professional choices in an Orchestra tenor. Generally Excellent - Condition.
A good playing example of one of the finest "Industry Standard" Orchestra tenor banjos from the 1920's. The Vegaphone line was essentially a long-scale Tubaphone with a resonator, and the Soloist was the second model in a 4-banjo line. The Soloist was solidly professionally priced, selling originally for $200.00 with Vega's high-grade construction features and a medium-fancy level decoration. Many parts were gold-plated including the hoop, tuners and multi-piece flange (with "Pat. Apl. For." marked on one flange piece). The soloist is unusual in featuring a mix of gold and nickel plated hardware. The pie-section resonator with beautifully shaded figured maple sections and white celluloid outer edge. There is engraved varied pearl inlay in the bound ebony fingerboard, with a 3-piece shaded maple neck. The pearl headstock inlay is Vega's fanciest floral pattern with the logo on a banner in the center. The gold-plated Oettinger tailpiece has individual arms engraved with "Vegaphone Soloist" and the company's Boston address. These Vegaphone banjos were extremely popular with period Jazz musicians and can be seen in many period photographs.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 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 3/16 in. (30 mm.). A well played banjo, but with plenty of life left! No damage or repair but there is finish and plating wear overall, including scratches to the back of the resonator, wear spots through the varnish to the back of the neck, spotting on the flange pieces, armrest and heavy plating loss to some of the hooks. The frets are well worn but still quite playable, the fingerboard and engraved inlay well preserved. Hardware is original and complete except for one Oettinger tailpiece tension screw is a period replacement and one of the tuner grommets is missing. A very fine sounding banjo, set up with a period skin head-then as now one of the top professional choices in an Orchestra tenor. Generally Excellent - Condition.