Vega Tu-Ba-Phone Style M Model Tenor Banjo (1927), made in Boston, serial # 74820, shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is fine-sounding early-pattern Tu-Ba-Phone tenor banjo. The Style M is an openback 21" scale instrument, the more archaic style of four-string that would be eventually phased out- by the mid-'20's this sort of instrument was a bit passe and this is a very late example. This Style M has a smaller rim than earlier examples, but remains an excellent choice for anyone preferring a shorter scale tenor instrument with a big sound.
Overall length is 30 3/4 in. (78.1 cm.), 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm.) diameter head, and 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 21 in. (533 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.). A nice original and good-playing short-neck tenor Tu-Ba-Phone, better preserved than many. It remains original except for a recent repro No-Knot tailpiece, new bridge and a plastic head. The finish and plating are very well preserved for its age and there are no repairs. This compact Vega has a very powerful and incisive sound for an openback tenor, and would make an excellent string band, early jazz or Irish-style banjo. Complete with a nice original HSC. Excellent - Condition.
