An early '60's Vega Pete Seeger Special longneck banjo on ebay right now. What did this model have that made it a "special"? Maybe the D-tuners?
8 Comments |
 | wesrichards says:
9/25/2014 2:42:17 AM
The location of the 5th string peg. It's 8 and 9 instead of 7 and 8. Lets you capo up to an open C.
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 | boulderfolkie says:
9/25/2014 8:43:51 AM
Just a guess but, along with the D-tuners, there's the tailpiece and sliding capo which doesn't appear to be a standard Schubb because of the mounting point on the 5th. peg. The armrest is also unusual but the awkward bolt though the rim indicates non-factory. That said, the "special" designation could merely denote that it was made (reluctantly) to a customer's personal request.
If the case is "too deep" as stated in the listing, there may have been a resonator of some sort fitted. I have an ODE long neck which was fitted at the shop with a reso and it necessitated a deeper case. Someone on the ODE thread said they'd never heard of a long neck with a resonator but I have two.
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 | john bange says:
9/25/2014 10:17:13 AM
that bolt through the pot is enough to make a grown man cry
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 | Helix says:
9/26/2014 6:05:38 AM
I use a resonator with a longneck, magnets give options.
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 | giweb says:
10/3/2014 2:22:05 PM
Mike Halloran needs to chime in here. This is what I've heard him comment on: 5th adjuster one fret up & the blond neck. However that 5th string capo attached to the geared 5th string tuner is one I've never seen. I've heard of a Pittman Capo, before the VEGA- Pittman Capo. Is this possibly one? Very interesting piece of banjo history. Definitely a Lifton case! One day auction only? Is this your Seeger Mike? If so, hope it does not bode ill health. We need you at BHO!
giweb
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| boulderfolkie says:
10/4/2014 8:01:50 AM
It's up to $1,800 with 9 hrs. to go.....tempted to bid on it but it needs a total restoration due to fret and f-board wear plus all that rust and corrosion. And that armrest REALLY gives me the creeps.
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 | LJ says:
10/4/2014 6:33:58 PM
I've been watching that one too. Sold tonight for $2400. It needed a lot of work. That tailpiece looks like a Richelieu Oettinger. That alone should bring $200. That was an industrial strength armrest and like John says. "Who puts a bolt straight through the pot?"
As to the "Special" on the yellow label. That particular banjo was one of several made in 1963-64 that had a misprint on the label. I guess the printer left out one digit in the serial numbers on that run of labels. They had 5 digits instead of the usual 6. That might make it "Special".
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| boulderfolkie says:
10/15/2014 7:13:46 AM
Having sold on Oct. 4th. for 2,426... it was re-listed by the same seller this morning for 3,329. Wondering what happened......
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