Vega Tu-Ba-Phone Model Guitar Banjo (1928), made in Boston, natural varnish finish, maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, black tolex original hard shell case.
A very nice Vega Tubaphone Guitar-Banjo, certainly one of the best-sounding "Guit-jo's" ever made. Maple rim with bracket band and tortoise celluloid edge capping; Tub-a-phone tone ring and Kershner "Improved Unique" tailpiece. Dowel carries Vega stamp, as well as three patents and the Vega star. Laminated maple neck with ivoroid-bound ebony fingerboard, inlaid with dots and small diamond and oblong shaped pearl pieces.
A very classy instrument and a rare find in any condition.
These 1920's Vegas, and particularly the Tubaphones, are as fine a banjo-guitar as has ever been made and great instruments for anything from vintage Jazz and Ragtime to Old-Time country styles.
"Play that thing, Mr. St Cyr!" - while with Louis Armstrong's Hot Five, Johnny St Cyr used a six-string Vega very similar to this one, as did New Orleans great Danny Barker.
Overall length is 36 3/4 in. (93.3 cm.), 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 in. (660 mm.).
Excellent original condition with period Planet geared tuners in place of the original non-geared variety. Very little wear overall and includes an original hard case. Excellent Condition.
