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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/322812
olddallas - Posted - 09/16/2016: 09:27:54
Hello. I currently have a B&D Silver Bell Sultana #1 that I love. I'm also interested in the Vegaphone Professional, but I've never played one. Can anyone tell me how the necks compare on these two models? Is one wider than the other? Specifically interested in 19-fret models. Thanks!
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 09/17/2016: 00:21:25
A B&D Sultana tenor has an appr. neck width of 29.0 mm ~ 1 9/64".
A VEGA Professional tenor has an appr. neck width of 30.0 mm ~ 1 3/16".
The neck on a Pro is also somewhat deeper than on a Sultana - do have in mind that the necks on Silver Bells ab late ´26 were reinforced with a rectangular bar of hardened tool steel - this made it possible for B&D to use a slim neck profile.
I hope that this helps.
Polle
Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 09/17/2016 00:24:14
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 09/17/2016: 02:40:06
PS!
Coming from a B&D you´ll most likely not have any problems playing a VEGA with its somewhat wider fretboard and ditto string spacing at the nut. Of course the "feeling" will be different - but in my experience many players do after some time not take any notice of this.
However - some players predominantly using a violin grip for most chord settings and especially single string playing tend to prefer the slim B&D neck profile.
On the other hand - some players predominantly using a classic grip (fingers perpendicular to the fretboard) do often have problems going from a VEGA to the more slim B&D.
For comparison:
DEERING is these days mostly using a slim tenor neck width of 29.4 mm ~ 1 5/32" - but on at least one model the very large width 31.8 mm ~ 1 1/4".
OME is these days always using a neck width of 31.0 mm ~ 1 7/32". Back in time they used the width 30.0 mm ~ 1 3/16".
olddallas - Posted - 09/17/2016: 12:04:42
Polle, thank you for your expert response! This is exactly the info I was looking for.
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