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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/282571
allfrets - Posted - 04/02/2014: 11:16:48
I am researching an early Vega Pete Seeger model banjo which was given to Bernie Krause by Seeger in 1963. Krause played this banjo with The Weavers for a year - including the Carnegie Hall reunion, prior to their disbanding in 1964. The banjo is a typical early PS (dowel stick/28 brackets) but has no markings or serial number on either the dowel stick or the rim. The neck had been refinished in the 60s after Seeger gave the banjo to Krasue (but the dowel was not altered or replaced). Does anyone know of a banjo matching this description which passed through Pete Seeger's hands in the late 50s or early 60s. I know of the PS model which he received and later donated to Sing Out magazine...this is a different banjo.
Joe Connor - Posted - 04/02/2014: 11:46:23
Allfrets, tell us more. It sounds like there must be a very interesting story behind your search for this banjo.
pastorharry - Posted - 04/02/2014: 12:25:08
i linked this to the long neck group. you might check with gruhn's as well.
sten36 - Posted - 04/02/2014: 14:57:10
Try Paul at "The Folk Store"he has lots of Pete Seeger long necks banjo for sale and knows a lot about these banjos.
Noel.
thefolkshop - Posted - 04/02/2014: 15:13:02
'63 sounds a little late for a dowel stick and 28 brackets. Paul
REarl - Posted - 04/02/2014: 17:40:58
I believe he is saying that the banjo was given by Seeger to Krause in 1963. That would make the production date earlier than 1963. The first banjo that Vega gave to Seeger, the one he donated to Sing Out, he got in 1960. I think that I heard once that he got two banjos from Vega at this time, but no-one should ever rely on my memory.
Ken LeVan - Posted - 04/04/2014: 14:54:00
quote:
Originally posted by allfretsI am researching an early Vega Pete Seeger model banjo which was given to Bernie Krause by Seeger in 1963. Krause played this banjo with The Weavers for a year - including the Carnegie Hall reunion, prior to their disbanding in 1964. The banjo is a typical early PS (dowel stick/28 brackets) but has no markings or serial number on either the dowel stick or the rim. The neck had been refinished in the 60s after Seeger gave the banjo to Krasue (but the dowel was not altered or replaced). Does anyone know of a banjo matching this description which passed through Pete Seeger's hands in the late 50s or early 60s. I know of the PS model which he received and later donated to Sing Out magazine...this is a different banjo.
With no markings on the rim or dowel stick, it's hard to authenticate. Bernie Krause might be able to write a statement which would create a provenance.
Vega made a lot of banjos and was always willing to make a "custom" instrument, but then other people messed with their instruments, too. I can think of a tubaphone I altered in the early 60s.
I think the best bet is the documented provenance route. Lots of folks, myself included could tell if it was actually made by Vega.
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