Fairbanks/Vega Electric Guitar Banjo (1920)
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Item # 4253
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Fairbanks/Vega Electric Model Guitar Banjo (1920), made in Boston, natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
An nice example of an early Vega "Electric" Banjo-Guitar, still carrying the Fairbanks trade name ("The Fairbanks Banjo made by The Vega Company") on the dowel. This one also has a celluloid tag from New York retailer Carl Fisher pinned on over that marking. The "Electric" (the name refers to the tone ring style, not actual electricity!) was the oldest high-grade model in the Vega line, patented in 1893. This is a very robust, high-quality instrument, lacking only the bracket band of the White Lady and the Tubaphone tone ring of the highest grade models.
The banjo features a heavy laminated maple rim and neck with very thick ebony fingerboard, elevated scalloped tone ring, and bracket shoes mounted through the rim. The neck has an ebony center laminate, heelcap, and headstock facing, as well as bone nut and pearl dot inlay. The rim edge is bound in tortoise celluloid with the bottom edge lacquered black, and the tailpiece is an original plain 6-string style we have not seen before. These fairly rare Vegas are among 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 similar six-string Vega) to Old-Time Country. This is a clean and good-playing example.
Overall length is 35 1/2 in. (90.2 cm.), 11 15/16 in. (30.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
All original with recent skin head and newer bridge; all other hardware unaltered. Light play wear overall, plays and sounds excellent. Overall Excellent Condition.
An nice example of an early Vega "Electric" Banjo-Guitar, still carrying the Fairbanks trade name ("The Fairbanks Banjo made by The Vega Company") on the dowel. This one also has a celluloid tag from New York retailer Carl Fisher pinned on over that marking. The "Electric" (the name refers to the tone ring style, not actual electricity!) was the oldest high-grade model in the Vega line, patented in 1893. This is a very robust, high-quality instrument, lacking only the bracket band of the White Lady and the Tubaphone tone ring of the highest grade models.
The banjo features a heavy laminated maple rim and neck with very thick ebony fingerboard, elevated scalloped tone ring, and bracket shoes mounted through the rim. The neck has an ebony center laminate, heelcap, and headstock facing, as well as bone nut and pearl dot inlay. The rim edge is bound in tortoise celluloid with the bottom edge lacquered black, and the tailpiece is an original plain 6-string style we have not seen before. These fairly rare Vegas are among 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 similar six-string Vega) to Old-Time Country. This is a clean and good-playing example.
Overall length is 35 1/2 in. (90.2 cm.), 11 15/16 in. (30.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
All original with recent skin head and newer bridge; all other hardware unaltered. Light play wear overall, plays and sounds excellent. Overall Excellent Condition.