Fairbanks/Vega Little Wonder Model Guitar Banjo, c. 1920, made in Boston, natural varnish finish, maple neck and rim.
An nice example of an early Vega Little Wonder Banjo-Guitar, still carrying the Fairbanks trade name ("The Fairbanks Banjo made by The Vega Company") on the dowel. 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 through the rim. The neck has an ebony heelcap and headstock facing, bone nut, and pearl dot inlay. The rim edge is bound in tortoise celluloid with the bottom edge laquered black, and the tailpiece is the heavy 6-string Kersher Unique.
These fairly rare Vegas are probably 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 old-time country. This is a clean and good-playing example.
Overall length is 36 in. (91.4 cm.), 11 15/16 in. (30.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 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 except repro hooks and nuts. Set up with a new skin head and older bridge. Some finish wear to back of neck; otherwise quite clean. A very nice-sounding and playing banjo-guitar. Excellent Condition.
