http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...b%3DWatching

Apparently, this banjo (an early version, single coordinator rod, soap bar inlays, etc.) has no resonator!

While I have no financial interest in the sale of this banjo, I do have a nice used mid-60s Vega resonator that matches and fits the Scruggses of that time, that I'll sell. I believe the finish color is a bit lighter brown than the somewhat cordovan brown shown on the banjo for sale on EBay. Those early Scruggses had burgundy colored "plastic laminate" side rims on the resonators.

Contact me if you're interested in finding a resonator for this EBay banjo. Although I haven't listed this in the Classifieds, I will happily make the required contribution to BHO if someone contacts me about the resonator for this EBay banjo.

Admins, if I'm doing this wrong, please let me know.

The Old Timer

I can win the attention of most any girl, wherever I may roam -- But singing and playing on a banjo alone, won't work against a trombone! Uncle Dave

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  19:14:26            

These banjos are a lot better than people give them credit for. I had one from about 1969 that was one of the last banjos that Vega made before selling out to Martin. The Auto-sonic or modified Tubaphone as they call them are really, really, really loud.

However, I'm not sure about the plastic laminate stuff on the resonator and how that would affect the sound--I'm pretty sure that mine didn't have that.

At this price, somebody should jump on er'



http://www.flatpickerhangout.com/my/revellfa

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  21:25:13      

That's essentially a Vega pro. That's a standard tubby ring. With the flange reworked for openback playing, it would be a dynamite banjo, and a bargain if the price stays close to where it is.

Bill

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  22:05:19        

If i was not in the process of spending way too much on another project, I would scoop that baby up!

Don

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  02:52:33    

I wonder if Bill Rickard's bracket band would fit one of those shells? Hey Oldtimer, I might be interested in that resonator. I've got a later Pro II with the resonator all chewed up.

Rex

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  10:33:49        

Looks like it sold. Someone got a deal!!

www.bobbythompsonbanjo.com

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  10:39:41      

No; I just checked. Goes until after 5 tomorrow PST. So the real bidding has yet to run I expect.

Bill

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  10:54:29            

It'd be nice to know which of three shapes (holes, barbells, or slits) are used in the tone ring. Just MHO, but just how hard would it have been to do a neater job routing the fretboard around those block inlays? Regardless, I wouldn't mind owning it.

Cheers,
John Coleman
Scarborough, Maine

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  10:55:37        

Sorry, I must have mis-read something. BTW I don't think the pyralin resonator walls hurt the tone at all. What is your opinion?

www.bobbythompsonbanjo.com

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  11:51:20      

quote:

---

Originally posted by mainejohn

It'd be nice to know which of three shapes (holes, barbells, or slits) are used in the tone ring....

---

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  13:44:56            

"Scroll down for the added pix."

Bill

...well it took me awhile to figure that out

Cheers,
John Coleman
Scarborough, Maine

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  15:59:20    

Everyone has their opinion, might make a collecters piece but I never cared for them.

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  21:59:24        

Not a good thing in my opinion to change the flange to a bracket band and....

...convert and "Earl Scruggs" to an "open back"....

...come on, think about what you are saying, at least from the standpoint of the original maker's intent, and doing justice to that, ESPECIALLY when the man is offering a matching (for the missing) resonator...(which is VERY gracious and considerate I might ad).


To answer an earlier post, I have one in my shop now with the "footballs and crowns" inlays and indeed, these are great banjos (and I mean bluegrass as well).

The one I have here now has a "slitted Tuby".






http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/152453

Chris Cioffi
(615)382-1376

Edited by - tubeandplate on 10/28/2009 22:00:26

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  06:48:18        

My 1965 Scruggs is very much like the one Chris described.

www.bobbythompsonbanjo.com

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  08:06:03        

Hi Ronnie-I think they are cool banjos, as well as the Vega Sonny Osborne models (which I THINK have Whyte Laydie/Electric rings IIRC).

They are neat from a collectable standpoint, but play and sound just great, too, though of course, differnent from the "Gibson hit" you get from them.

They usually don't bring as much as you would think, either.

I played Vega Folk Ranger (I think) at a guitar show in Nashville a few years ago from this same period. It was a regular length 5 string, little wonder tonering, and resonator.

It sounded so dang good, I couldn't believe it. I played it for like 45 minutes in disbelief. 5 minutes into that, George Gruhn walked up, listened to me play for the rest of the time, commented on how good a banjo it was, and bought it as soon as I put it up. I just didn't have the $600 at the time, or I would have bought it. I just couldn't believe how good it sounded.

Those 60's resonated Vegas are just great, I think.

If I had not overextended myself and bought a couple Fairbanks banjos recently, I would try to buy this scruggs and the spare resonator offered in the first post (that's a very nice thing to do, BTW).

I hope someone does just that and enjoys it.





http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/152453

Chris Cioffi
(615)382-1376

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  08:27:24        

Hi Chris!
If I could afford it, I would bid on it myself. It would be nice to have a spare in case something happens to my Scruggs.

www.bobbythompsonbanjo.com

Edited by - Ronnie on 10/29/2009 09:29:21

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  10:36:23        

With a few hours left, the price is heading north.

Don

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  17:46:38      

It sold for $1025 without a resonator!

I have the "spare" 60s VEGA resonator, but I am NOT the seller of the banjo itself. No relationship to the banjo sale.

The Old Timer

I can win the attention of most any girl, wherever I may roam -- But singing and playing on a banjo alone, won't work against a trombone! Uncle Dave

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  17:52:11      

well folks i have a 1964 vega scruggs with nthe bars inlays in good shape that i was thinking of putting up for trade for a 1970 goldstar if you ever go on the chat room i play most every nite say 7 to 9 on and off it does sound good to me more like a hollowed out church bell or a old grandfather clock chime i just prefer the goldstar banjos for playability i dont know why the vega is excellent but i like the goldstar

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  17:52:19      

well folks i have a 1964 vega scruggs with nthe bars inlays in good shape that i was thinking of putting up for trade for a 1970 goldstar if you ever go on the chat room i play most every nite say 7 to 9 on and off it does sound good to me more like a hollowed out church bell or a old grandfather clock chime i just prefer the goldstar banjos for playability i dont know why the vega is excellent but i like the goldstar

Posted - 10/30/2009 :  04:50:49      

Old Timer
email me off list at dmhutchens@aol.com. I bought the Peabody Vega last week and might be interested in the resonator you have.

Doug

Posted - 10/30/2009 :  05:08:03            

That 5th string slide is interesting :p

HIKE FASTER I hear a banjo...

Posted - 10/30/2009 :  05:57:59        

I don't recognize the 5th string capo. Most everybody used Pittmans back in the day. I opted for spikes on my Scruggs.

www.bobbythompsonbanjo.com

Posted - 10/30/2009 :  08:10:04    

My Pro II has a "Sliding Capo" the kind with the thin bar and springy thing that slides on it. It's just small enough where I can still get my thumb around. I had it put on shortly after I bought it back in '69 and it's still working fine. It still covers up the side dots though and my main Gibby has spikes.

Rex

Posted - 10/30/2009 :  11:02:49        

I really shouldn't keep talking about how great these banjos are. If they become popular the price will go up. I may need to buy another one someday, and don't intend to ever sell mine.

www.bobbythompsonbanjo.com

Posted - 10/30/2009 :  11:45:36        

Ronnie...SSHHHH!!!!!



Remember, Ronnie, "these aren't prewar OPF Gibson Flatheads we're talking about....how good can they be??"

Just rehearse that line over and over so that when someone asks you about them, you'll be prepared.....




http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/152453

Chris Cioffi
(615)382-1376

Edited by - tubeandplate on 10/30/2009 11:46:50