Vega Tu-Ba-Phone #9 Model Plectrum Banjo (1925), made in Boston, Mass., shaded maple finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm.) diameter head, and 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 28 in. (711 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). This venerable Tu-Ba-Phone is still a very fine player, with some typical older restoration. It has had the finish oversprayed with a fairly heavy lacquer coat to the neck and rim at some time, and been refretted with slightly larger wire than Vega's 1920's style. This is typical of banjos brought out and used in the 1950's and '60's Dixieland era, when everything was still expected to look shiny and new! The tuners are old-style Planet pegs with the original Ludwig-style collars and real pearl buttons; there are not original but have likely been in place a long time. It did have a resonator added at some point, but there are only two tiny filled screw holes in the dowel and a couple of pressure marks as evidence. All other hardware is original and this is still an exceptionally fine performing openback plectrum banjo, rich with the classic Tu-Ba-Phone sound. Overall Excellent - Condition.
