Vega Fairbanks Tu-Ba-Phone Style M Model Tenor Banjo (1922), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 46084, natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard.
Overall length is 30 3/8 in. (77.2 cm.), 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 20 1/2 in. (521 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.). This 90-year-old banjo is very clean overall and appears virtually all original except for a newer skin head; all original hardware including the 4-string No-Knot tailpiece, Grover spring-loaded friction pegs and old-style Grover Non-Tip bridge. Some wear to the plating (mostly on some of the the hooks) and one full hook/shoe assembley is missing (just below the tailpiece). Very little wear to the finish or frets-this banjo did not get played very much! Typically excellent Tu-Ba-Phone sound; this short-neck Vega is ideal for Irish banjo styles, early Jazz or whatever the creative banjoiste might imagine! Overall Excellent Condition.
