2DJuggler - Posted - 09/20/2014:  07:21:51

PICTURES

Her great-grandfather can be seen in a newspaper clips in one of the images above. I haven't been able to find much on vagavox's other than this Wikipedia link. I do know that they are fairly rare and expensive. It appears that the banjo has been modified so that it could be plugged into an amplifier. She also has a record with some of her great-grandfathers music on it, but we haven't gotten a hold of a record player yet.

If anyone could point me in the right direction for finding out more about this banjo's history and what it's worth (although she won't be selling it) I'd be grateful!

nograss5150 - Posted - 09/20/2014:  08:07:19

Don't know anything about the banjo but I'm sure others will chime in.  What a great find with memories from earlier in the family.  Tell gf she has no excuse now not to learn how to play it.  Keep us posted if you find additional family history.

bargrasspicker - Posted - 09/20/2014:  08:12:15

thats a really nice banjo. pro level and has value. you can see old time banjo master eddie peabody playing one here youtube.com/watch?v=Ulz3Dxz2Xv8

someone else will know the value better than I

Edited by - bargrasspicker on 09/20/2014 08:12:39

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 09/20/2014:  08:12:47

There is a Vega group on this site. You can try posting this same thing on it and see if they will help. Just go to forum>groups>vega.

2DJuggler - Posted - 09/20/2014:  08:14:08

It is exciting and I'll be sure to keep you posted. She is actually a more much accomplished musician than I am, though her drug of choice is the piano. The banjo and piano make for some interesting duets...

2DJuggler - Posted - 09/20/2014:  08:14:43

Thank for the tip Kirk!

2DJuggler - Posted - 09/20/2014:  08:16:48

That's the same make and model?! Very cool! Thanks for sharing Kyle.

Edited by - 2DJuggler on 09/20/2014 08:17:24

davidwigal - Posted - 09/20/2014:  12:19:50

Hey welcome to the Hang-Out James! Maybe your girlfriend will let you learn on it and you two can do some duets together 

Leslie R - Posted - 09/20/2014:  13:14:17

Sounds like that old banjo has found a new and appreciative home. I can't help but wonder how many of those old treasures were not as fortunate.

The Old Timer - Posted - 09/20/2014:  14:26:27

Vega-Voxes came in at least 4 grades, I, II, III, and IV. This appears to be perhaps a I based on the simple inlay in the fingerboard and lack of engraving, paint, etc. It also appears to be rather old, perhaps from the 1930s or 40s? If you can find the serial # inside it you can date it. For instance, does it have square wooden "dowel" stick going across the inside of the pot? That makes it older. In the late 50s and 1960s it would have had metal rods instead of the square wooden stick.

The different in I, II, III and IV is all in appearance/decoration. The sound and tone making guts of the banjo were the same in all grades.

1960s Grade IVs are usually asking $4000+ in real good shape. They are gold plated, engraved, and painted in wild geometric designs. Hunt around on the internet and you'll see a few for sale. I don't recall having seen an advertised price on a Vox I or II lately. Type that into your Googler and see what you turn up.

Demand for this type of banjo is fairly low nowadays. That depresses price of course.