I have had several vega banjos ove r the past 5 years. My first was a little wonder tenor, which i part exchanged for a vega proffesional tenor, which i swapped for a whyte layde tenor. This i sent to dave stacy in England for him to add a no 7, left handed 5 string neck. He did a superb job and thats what got me into clawhammer. Problem with being a lefty is that you cant get vintage instruments.
My next purchase was a 11 and 11/16 Vega deluxe tenor from USA which i bought to also convert to a lefty open back. I Just loved the abalone on the pot rim. I had all the gold parts re-plaited and it was stunning. However, if i converted it to a lefty, openback, the flanges would have to go, and it seemed such a shame to break up such a beautiful tenor banjo and i knew someone who played the tenor who would never have spoken to me again if i`d done so. So i sold it him. Not sure i did the right thing but he loves it and uses it daily gigging so i think i did the right thing.
Since then i have bought a cheap (£300) 10 3/4 tuberphone tenor that plays great, but the neck has been interfered with at some point in its life so much so that there is a bad gap were the neck meets the pot. I am going to have abalone put on the pot rim of this and have a lefty no 9 neck put on this some time in the future, and as its been tampered with in the past, wont feel guilty about it.
12 Comments |
 | Ronnie says:
1/29/2011 4:49:26 AM
My first was also a Little Wonder tenor @1928.
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 | neillconnor says:
1/29/2011 5:23:20 AM
Thinking back my little wonder was a great banjo. Dave Stacey swears by them and of all the vegas, he chooses the little wonder as his banjo of choice. I think he adds his own design tone ring, and adds his neck. Here is a video of him showing me how to play reg rocking chair in open g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XmfK5P_3RU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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| neillconnor says:
1/29/2011 5:26:26 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XmfK5P_3RU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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 | RWJonesy says:
2/18/2011 5:08:41 PM
I recently purchased my first Vega. I bought a 1922 10 1/8 WL pot on eBay and had Wyatt Fawley build me a 23" inch short scale neck for it. I just love the size and tone of this instrument. It is the sweetest banjo I have yet to own. I think I would like a short scale Vega tubaphone as well sometime later on down the road. The sound of Reed Martin's Tubaphone #9 on his "Old Time Banjo" album is amazing and makes me want one too!
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 | laguna21dc says:
2/21/2011 12:59:06 PM
I am continually pleased with the tone of the old vega banjo pots.Most of them are the little wonder style tone rings as they are much easier to find at a resonable price for conversion.What I don't understand is how they remain under the radar as far as tone is concerned.Maybe it's just me but the tone for clawhammer style is amazing.I admit I'm not much of a player anymore just fool around but for such a simple design they really put out.
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 | john bange says:
4/10/2011 5:34:57 PM
my first Vega was a Folk Ranger, then a Little Wonder, a Senator, then a long neck Folk Ranger...now I am waiting on the arrival of my new Long Neck Little Wonder...all Deerings except the Folk Rangers.
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 | beachboy says:
7/21/2011 5:06:17 PM
Just sold my Wildwood I bought new in 1974, great banjo but really heavy, I bought a Vega Little Wonder 1928 conversion, one that Gary Schattl built. It has been a great find. Just getting back into playing, I have no real talent but love the sound and learning new songs. Love the banjo.....
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 | jacktraylor says:
7/24/2011 9:15:14 AM
October of last year someone gave me a 1919 Regent 5 string. I had tinkered around with the banjo in the 60's but was at heart a guitar player.All that has changed. I have become a Banjaddict. I don"t play well but I play a lot. Since meeting my Regent I tramp the halls of auctions seeking yet another banjo fix. I have forsaken my companion of 50 years,a wonderful Martin D35, for a collection of Vegas from 1900--1920. I have acquired several and feel compelled to search on. I have a Whyte Laydie that started life as a Style S mandolin, A Tubaphone that started as a Style M Tenor, a long neck Tubaphone that also was a Style M, and a style K mandolin.All of this since that trollop Regent came into my life. I think I need help: my wife is sure of it. I have sunk so low as to seek instruction in this instrument from children. I guess my reason for posting all this is a need to know if there is a cure for this addiction. Can you offer me any hope?
Jack
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| neillconnor says:
7/24/2011 9:36:49 AM
Sorry there is no hope jack, it's an incurable disease. I have two whyte lady no 7's, and a tuberphone mandolin pot awaiting a left handed neck to be made. I am still constantly searching for others to convert to lefties. I think this addiction should be medically recognised by the Government and either treatment or grants issued for my addiction.
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| jacktraylor says:
7/24/2011 11:41:24 AM
Would there were other news but it seems to be as I feared all along. The claw in claw hammer is in reference not to a banjo style but a banjo part,as in "she sank her claws into her victim". As sad as it may seem ,like all addictions, there is a part of me that doesn't want to be cured. Thank you,however, for your condolences.
Jack
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 | Gaby says:
7/18/2012 8:03:43 AM
I'm playing nineteen fret 1928 Vegaphone Soloist tenor banjo with 10 and 15/16 sheepskin head, my first banjo.Gaby
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 | Tatersoup says:
9/22/2012 4:45:15 AM
My only Vega is a Deering Vega Little Wonder. It is my favorite banjo by far.
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