Vega Little Wonder Guitar Banjo (1927)
This item has been sold.
Item # 6326
Prices subject to change without notice.
Vega Little Wonder Model Guitar Banjo (1927), made in Boston, Mass., natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
A very nice example of the fairly rare Vega Little Wonder Banjo-Guitar. Although a relatively inexpensive model in the Vega line the Little Wonder is still a robust high-quality instrument, lacking only the fancier tone rings and bracket band of the White Lady and Tubaphone. This banjo features a heavy laminated maple rim and neck and very thick ebony fingerboard, simple sheathed brass wire tone ring and standard brackets mounted thru the rim. The neck has an ebony heelcap and headstock facing, bone nut and pearl dot inlay. The rim's bottom edge is bound in tortoise celluloid; not visible here as this banjo also mounts a period close fitting resonator that was an optional feature at the time. These beautifully made Vegas are by most reckoning the best open back guitar-banjos ever built, and sound great for everything from New Orleans Jazz ("Play that thing, Mr. St Cyr!" - with Louis Armstrong's Hot Five Johnny St Cyr used a six-string Vega) to ragtime and on through Old-Time Country.
Overall length is 37 in. (94 cm.), 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 3/4 in. (654 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). Very nice overall with some mostly light wear; all original except for a recent plastic head and old but not original geared Grover banjo tuners. The only really worn spot is on the neck around the first position, where someone played a lot of "Cowboy" chords-the neck finish is worn through and there is some divoting in the ebony fretboard. Like all these Vegas a truly excellent sounding banjo guitar. Includes a newer (somewhat worn but functional) HSC. Excellent - Condition.
A very nice example of the fairly rare Vega Little Wonder Banjo-Guitar. Although a relatively inexpensive model in the Vega line the Little Wonder is still a robust high-quality instrument, lacking only the fancier tone rings and bracket band of the White Lady and Tubaphone. This banjo features a heavy laminated maple rim and neck and very thick ebony fingerboard, simple sheathed brass wire tone ring and standard brackets mounted thru the rim. The neck has an ebony heelcap and headstock facing, bone nut and pearl dot inlay. The rim's bottom edge is bound in tortoise celluloid; not visible here as this banjo also mounts a period close fitting resonator that was an optional feature at the time. These beautifully made Vegas are by most reckoning the best open back guitar-banjos ever built, and sound great for everything from New Orleans Jazz ("Play that thing, Mr. St Cyr!" - with Louis Armstrong's Hot Five Johnny St Cyr used a six-string Vega) to ragtime and on through Old-Time Country.
Overall length is 37 in. (94 cm.), 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 3/4 in. (654 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). Very nice overall with some mostly light wear; all original except for a recent plastic head and old but not original geared Grover banjo tuners. The only really worn spot is on the neck around the first position, where someone played a lot of "Cowboy" chords-the neck finish is worn through and there is some divoting in the ebony fretboard. Like all these Vegas a truly excellent sounding banjo guitar. Includes a newer (somewhat worn but functional) HSC. Excellent - Condition.