Vegaphone Professional Model Tenor Banjo (1930), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 93683, shaded maple finish, maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, two-tone hard shell case.
This is a nice example of the "Industry Standard" tenor banjo of the 1920's. The Vegaphone was essentially a long-scale Tubaphone tenor with a resonator, and the Professional was the "popular priced" model. In the mid-'20's this banjo sold for $125.00 with all Vega's high-grade construction features but less fancy decoration. This fairly late 1930 version still features Vega's earlier multi-flange construction with the later style two-piece resonator back with beautifully shaded figured maple sections and gold celluloid outer edge bound in white. The three-piece maple neck has varied-pattern pearl inlay in bound ebony fingerboard, with pearl headstock inlay of the Vega logo in decorative surround. The Presto tailpiece cover is engraved with "Vegaphone Professional" and a Vega star design. These banjos were extremely popular with 1920's Jazz musicians and can be seen in many period photographs; then as now the Vegaphone Professional is a great sounding high-grade instrument at a reasonable price.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 3 in. (7.6 cm.) in depth at side. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). Some general wear but overall an original and excellent playing banjo. There is some typical light wear to the finish but the hardware is relatively clean and nearly all original including the Grover "pancake" tuners and the proprietary "Vegaphone" branded tailpiece; only a few hooks and the armrest are more recent. Some light fretwear but nothing too serious. Set up with a plastic head; typically excellent Vegaphone sound, a very fine gigging 1920's orchestra tenor banjo. Excellent - Condition.
