The Pro model initially featured a Tube-a-phone tone chamber rim which evolved into a tone ring with exclusively designed audio apertures machined into a dogbone/barbell configuration. Thanks for your very kind words about the BRC website. I appreciate having some of the history around my banjo and will cherish it even more knowing it is somewhat rare. Martin purchased the Vega brand in May in 1970 and just before the factory was transferred to Pennsylvania. Ive also got some remaining parts from the renovation process Id happily like to donate, including the original chrome-plated brass tailpiece, and a couple of almost unused heads. Martin built only 20 F-VIP 5 stringers, and to my count 11 were made in Pennsylvania per the shop log book. Both of these models had block mother of pearl inlays, with fewer inlays appearing on the new scaled-down Pro fretboard. Your banjo was manufactured in Pennsylvania in 1976 per Shop Order #2299 just before Martin began to ship parts to Japan for assembly (after which serial numbers became goofy). After the difficult 1977 luthier strike at the C.F. The V-45(5) featured a heavy one-piece flat head tone ring of brass so popular among Bluegrass pickers. With the original Hardshell case and the rare Earl Scruggs Tuners or de- tuners if you will. Best of luck and thanks for your query, Barry. My VIP-5 is SN 1364 and was made about one year after your 5-stringer, and it has a nice mid range tone. Just bought a martin-vega banjo from an old man in North Carolina. I own a Vega VIP fivestring banjo, with serial number 130056. An Original Fairbanks 5-String Banjo with a replaced ebony fingerboard and peg-head facing, with added appropriate pearl inlays. Barry. Is 887 also a Pro5? Martin decal photographed on the back of the VIP Vega peg head. Be safe, be well. Be safe, be well, keep on picking. Martin did not publish suggested retail prices after 1971, but I would estimate the V-76 sold for around $7-800 with case. (They are NOT a 'coded' format.) The serial # is 448. Galaxy went bankrupt in a few years, and the Vega brand was purchased in 1989 by Deering in California who restored the instrument line to greatness. C.F. If it has a wooden pot resonator, remove it and check the inner rim for identifiers. Thanks again. The more affordable V-41-5 banjo was partnered with the D-41 guitar, but this marketing ploy did not work as anticipated for either of the aforementioned guitar/banjo combinations. In the 1971 price list, it retailed at $545 without case. I cannot find any pictures remotely close online. Martin purchased Vega in May of 1970, and production transitioned from Boston to Nazareth, PA. Good luck, thanks much for your post, and great to hear from you again, Barry. However, its a beautifully crafted banjo with a great sound. It was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1973 per shop order # 2154. . The year 1970-1971 was a time of transition of tools and parts from Boston to Nazareth, PA. The long neck banjo is less popular nowadays with the surge in Bluegrass music, but I have two of them and value their mellow wife-friendly tone. Check Price at Amazon. My aunt gave me a Martin Vega banjo serial number 892 to see what it was worth since she is not internet savy and looking to sell it. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Do you have any information on it? What a wealth of information! Hello there, what a terrific Web page you guys have put together so interesting, i have a open back tenor banjo with the Martin logo and nos 916 it has the same pearl inlay as the 5 string pro it has 19 frets , i have no idea of its value but it has a beautiful slim neck just so easy to finger chords, cheers Rob. If you need photos I can take a few and send them to you on a subsequent time. I cant find that picture, but Ill see if I can locate it, as someone else may have sent it to me playing the banjo out at afestival in Arizona. Vega Martin banjo SN 1795 was one of three special order V-45 5-string banjos manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1977 per Shop Order 2335. If you could give me your thought about what its worth, I would appreciate it. But, the neck had the upgraded crown inlay pattern like their mid range banjos, and originally a paddle peghead design (the new scroll design appeared in 1968). 0 bids. Rob- Thank you for the below photos. Martin did not publish suggested retail prices after 1971, but I would estimate the V-76 sold for around $7-800 with case. George Gruhn might also know. So happy to find this site. Plectrum means a 4-string model with 22 frets, which is longer scale (27) than the 19 fret 4-string tenor (23). I orderedit in 1970 through a music store in Norwich , Ct run by Cliff Tidd . Photos are always welcome, and thanks for your post. I recently had a luthier friend do setup on it and he found the pot metal rim flange to be broken and wont allow me to have the head at proper tension. The Pro II model was advertised in the 1966 Vega catalogue with an up-graded and fancy mother of pearl inlay pattern as seen on your banjo. JC Hope this helps and thanks again for your post and e-mails, Barry, Lynne- Thanks for your query. Nowadays, it might fetch around $750 in the online marketplace. The last Vega Martin banjo manufactured in Nazareth, PA, was SN 1969 as reportedly documented by a letter of authentication signed by C.F. Your Wonder-5 string banjo #(Martin)130097 was made in Boston in early 1971 after C.F. Again, thank youmuchfor your post. Vega Martin long neck PS-5 banjo SN 80 is one of eleven Pete Seeger 5-stringers manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1972 per Shop Order 2098. Thanks from the BRC, Barry, Hi Barry! The resonator back and sidewall colored engravings are probably the key feature that might bring more value than lessthere were two likely designs at this time a tiffany-style web pattern with a floral vine on the side (first used in 1930) or the late 1940s Indian blanket Art Deco design.I have an original 1948 model that has the older style neck, with the new resonator designso , its a mixed bag during this time as Vega was experimenting with parts off the shelf when banjo sales were extremely low (maybe 20 per year) and their focus was on guitar and ukulule production instead.Pricing for 4 strings (and 5 strings) have dropped considerably over last 2-3 years for vintage banjosVoxes have held more than others. The Seeger endorsed 5-stringer had the famous Vega Tube-a phone tone ring, a three piece ebony fingerboard, pearl dots, a neck-tension rod, a 10 ply maple rim, and a brass bracket band and notched tension hoop. From the BRC, Barry, Sir: What kind of info can you give me on a V-76E banjo, Ser. Tom- Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your instrument. Your peghead and resonator are clearly marked with C.F. Of note, banjo SN 136 manufactured in 1972 was a Vega Vox I plectrum and not a 5-stringer like yours. This Vox uses brass (rather than the late model Vega/Martin aluminum) hex nut shoes for the tension bolts, and thinner dual brass coordinator rods (again, instead of aluminum). Hello. The Vega brand was subsequently sold overseas in 1979. Retail price was $1300.00 ; I paid $900.00 . Thanks from all of us! Tony Trsichka wants Greg to make a 5-string model, much like Vega did on very rare occasions in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Family owned since 1972, Elderly Instruments is a music store specializing in new, used & vintage guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles and more. Vega Regent Model 5 String Banjo (1925), made in Boston, Mass., natural varnish finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case. Martin Museum collection. Thanks again for your time & consideration. I have had the opportunity to do this only once for a friend who traded some vintage parts with me for an old flange that I had by serendipity on my workshop shelf. These days, my guess is that this 5 stringer is worth about $1500 or more depending on condition. I have a seperate label thats still in the case showing the serial # 1199. The handsome Professional-5 model with an upgraded tone ring and rim re-appeared in the 1972 Vega/Martin banjo catalogue- but no sign ever again of the short lived BJF-5 stringer. In those years there was not a college student who didn't dream of owning a Vega Pete . The VM price list in 1971 quoted a sales tag of $545 for the Pro-5 without case. Then by ink its written Folk Ranger. Buy VEGA Banjos and get the best deals at the lowest prices on eBay! The rim is 10 ply maple with a top metal tone ring, nickel-plated metal parts, and a shaded mahogany finish. I was lucky enough to buy one but, as my music and and the type of music I had to play to get work changed, I hardly played this, near mint condition, banjo. It was one of the last batch of fourteen Wonder 5-stringers made in the USA before C.F. Your instrument SN 999 was one of five VIP-5 (Very Important Player) banjos was made in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1974 per Shop Order # 2212. Of note, my Vega Martin VIP-5 banjo built in 1975 also came with a `Care of Your Banjo` memo dated 8/26/71 and a warranty that instructed the owner to call 215-759-2837 and ask for Mike (probably Mike Longworth who was C.F. They all had yellow serial number stickers. Idoubt it matches the rim, unless they changed from a plectrum to tenor atlast minute. The resonator was hand-painted, and fancy engraved pearl inlays adorned the ebony fingerboard. Id appreciate your comments please & thanks, Linda. Bill- Thanks for your query. He uses the one piece neck design typical of the other Deering models with the SN stamped on the back of the peghead. So heres my question. From the BRC, Barry. 1833 decal is absent from the inner rim. When C.F. A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Regent" 5-string banjo, S/N 25121, Circa 1909 A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Tubaphone" #9, 5-string banjo, S/N 25516, Circa 1909 . Martin upgraded the maple rim to 10 ply after purchasing the Vega/Boston franchise in May of 1970. 2 Vega banjo from the early Boston era. Wow! Martin Vega Banjo 5-Strings, Medium Gauge (V740) Check Price at Amazon. C.F. Barry. If in poor condition, Ive seen them sell as low as $3000-4000. The V-41 was available by special order only, and it listed back then for $850. The serial number is found on a white tag on the inside of the resonator or if you have an openback banjo, it is a smaller white tag on the inside of the rim. Your slightly blurry photo of the interior of the pot(not included here)show two tubular connecting rods which are left -over parts from the Vega factory in Boston. Where to find your serial number. Evidently, there was a marketing strategy to partner the 5-string V-41 instrument with Martin`s popular D-41 guitar, but this ploy did not come to fruition. Per my files, the Pete Seeger long neck first appears in a Vega flyer in 1961 for $309. In my files, the PS-5 is seen in a Vega (Boston) flyer in 1961 where it lists for $309. Photos of the banjo might possibly shed some light on the mystery, if you are so inclined. Hence, my theory is that this ornate banjo was assembled overseas after Martin began shipping parts to Japan and Canada for assembly in 1976, and this would explain the mysterious serial number. Dick- Thank you for being a frequent reader of the BRC website. In 1970, C.F. rocket and teresa administrative leave; The tone ring holes are grouped in sets of three rather than equally spaced as on a tubaphone ring. In the 1960`s, the PS-5 featured a 3 piece ebony fingerboard and a Tube-a-phone tone ring of bell brass and a 5 ply maple rim. The banjo had a 3 piece maple neck and a signature tubaphone tone ring clearly shown in the pictures that you provided. Another side note, Greg Deering has made two prototype Voxes alreadyI have played one of them, which is basically an identical design to the 1967 Vox I with a paddle peghead and crown inlays. The fascinatingwooden pie (sectioned) resonator is probably inherited from the Boston era Vega inventory. Each of the men is posed in front of a Vega model 131 amplifier, identical to the unit which remains with the banjo today. Being unable to find anything on the internet, I began to think I had been scammed. Your site is a great resource for these instruments by the way. Is has a hard case with blue interior. The `41` engraved on the tailpiece no doubt refers to the model V-41 designation. I recently took my Dads 4 string banjo out of storage after approximately 25 years since his passing. Excellent condition. Your 5-stringer was one of seven V-76E instruments manufactured per Shop Order 2310, and the `E` designation indicates that these seven banjos were made for employees. Again, thanks for your post. The evolution of the Professional model dates back to the Boston 1963 Vega catalogue that featured the first Pro model banjo that looked like an inexpensive version of the Earl Scruggs model that Vega offered at that time. The number is painted on the bottom not pressed in the wood.
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