Vegaphone Professional Tenor Banjo (1927)
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Vegaphone Professional Model Tenor Banjo (1927), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 79140, shaded maple finish, maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a nice playing example of the "Industry Standard" tenor banjo of the 1920's, the Vegaphone Professional. The Vegaphone series were essentially a long-scale Tubaphone tenor with a resonator, and the Professional was the "popular priced" model. In the mid-'20's this banjo sold for $125.00 with all Vega's high-grade construction features but less fancy decoration.
This 1927 version uses Vega's earlier multi-flange construction with individual flange piece for each hook. The Pie-section resonator has a beautifully shaded figured maple sections and tortoise celluloid outer edge. The three-piece maple neck has varied-pattern pearl inlay in bound ebony fingerboard, with pearl headstock inlay of the Vega logo in decorative surround. The Presto tailpiece is engraved with "Vegaphone Professional" design.
These banjos were extremely popular with period Jazz musicians and can be seen in many period photographs. Along with the Paramount Style A the Vegaphone Professional was the most popular pro-grade banjo of the 1920s. Then as now this is a great sounding high-grade tenor banjo at a reasonable price.
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 at side. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This nearly 100 year old banjo shows some general wear overall but remains an original and excellent playing banjo. The finish remains largely original showing dings, scuffs and scrapes with wear to the wood along the center seam on the back of the neck. The only touch up is to the headstock which has been buffed out on the face and has some overfinish on the back, mostly related to an odd scar adjacent to one tuner. There are no apparent cracks or structural repairs related to this.
The hardware is original except for a more modern set of Planet tuners; the hooks, flanges, armrest and the proprietary tailpiece. There is plating wear mostly as usual to the hooks. The fingerboard has been very neatly refretted and rebound with the correct ivoriod material. The banjo is set up with an older fairly heavy calfskin head that gives a warmer, darker sound than the often treble-heavy tenor tone with a modern thin plastic head. We find this an excellent sounding instrument, quite authentic in character a very fine gigging 1920's orchestra tenor banjo. The original case is functional but pretty scruffy with a replaced top plate to the lid. Very Good + Condition.
This is a nice playing example of the "Industry Standard" tenor banjo of the 1920's, the Vegaphone Professional. The Vegaphone series were essentially a long-scale Tubaphone tenor with a resonator, and the Professional was the "popular priced" model. In the mid-'20's this banjo sold for $125.00 with all Vega's high-grade construction features but less fancy decoration.
This 1927 version uses Vega's earlier multi-flange construction with individual flange piece for each hook. The Pie-section resonator has a beautifully shaded figured maple sections and tortoise celluloid outer edge. The three-piece maple neck has varied-pattern pearl inlay in bound ebony fingerboard, with pearl headstock inlay of the Vega logo in decorative surround. The Presto tailpiece is engraved with "Vegaphone Professional" design.
These banjos were extremely popular with period Jazz musicians and can be seen in many period photographs. Along with the Paramount Style A the Vegaphone Professional was the most popular pro-grade banjo of the 1920s. Then as now this is a great sounding high-grade tenor banjo at a reasonable price.
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 at side. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This nearly 100 year old banjo shows some general wear overall but remains an original and excellent playing banjo. The finish remains largely original showing dings, scuffs and scrapes with wear to the wood along the center seam on the back of the neck. The only touch up is to the headstock which has been buffed out on the face and has some overfinish on the back, mostly related to an odd scar adjacent to one tuner. There are no apparent cracks or structural repairs related to this.
The hardware is original except for a more modern set of Planet tuners; the hooks, flanges, armrest and the proprietary tailpiece. There is plating wear mostly as usual to the hooks. The fingerboard has been very neatly refretted and rebound with the correct ivoriod material. The banjo is set up with an older fairly heavy calfskin head that gives a warmer, darker sound than the often treble-heavy tenor tone with a modern thin plastic head. We find this an excellent sounding instrument, quite authentic in character a very fine gigging 1920's orchestra tenor banjo. The original case is functional but pretty scruffy with a replaced top plate to the lid. Very Good + Condition.