I just purchased my first Vega. I got it off of eBay, won the auction a couple of hours ago. It is an Earl Scruggs model, maybe some of y'all saw it on eBay. I imagine it will be a week or so before it arrives. I don't know much about Vega banjos, I became interested in them after following a few recent posts. I'm looking forward to its arrival. I plan to get it set up, and will be using it primarily for D-tuning if it has the tone I'm looking for. I would appreciate any advice in reference to set up and information about the instrument itself.
9 Comments |
 | rbergesch says:
10/27/2013 8:33:02 PM
If your instrument has not been aboused in the past 50 years, I think you'll be very pleased. I got a Vega-Scruggs an ST-5, with factory installed Scruggs tuners,) from a BHO classified about 18 months ago, and I love it. An under-sung instrument. There are several other BHO members who have them, and we all respect them. Different than a Gibson, but a fine instrument nonetheless, in its own way... Enjoy!
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| rbergesch says:
10/27/2013 8:34:21 PM
I've posted some comments on various threads concerning this instrument. As you are probably aware, the topic comes up in threads or forums on BHO now and again...
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 | Leslie R says:
10/27/2013 8:40:31 PM
Could you clarify "this instrument". Are you referring to this model, or are you referring to this specific banjo?
Leslie
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| rbergesch says:
10/27/2013 8:45:06 PM
Referring to Vega-Scruggs model. I believe if you use the search function, upper right corner with keywords " Scruggs" & "Vega" you should find some threads/forums. Instrument owners or prospective owners are the main commenters...
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| rbergesch says:
10/27/2013 8:50:11 PM
I hope you post some pictures when it arrives. I've had great pleasure with mine. It is much lighter than a Gibson or a Gibson-clone. I've taken it to festivals, etc. simply because it is easier to lug around than my Cox, which is basically a modern high end Gibson style banjo. The Vega rim is lighter, the Vega tone ring is lighter, and all in all it is easier for an old man like me to manage. And I like the sound, or I wouldn't have kept it...
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| rbergesch says:
10/27/2013 9:06:53 PM
There are people on BHO who know a whole lot about Vega banjos. You'll be able to date it by the serial number, and find out a lot of other info once you can post the pictures. If your instrument has not been abused, you will probably find that you have a pretty good instrument. IMHO, they don't have quite the power of a Gibson, because they don't have as much wood and metal moving to generate the sound, but they are a top flight banjo nonetheless.
Vega made top-of-the-line banjos for 50+ years; they knew what they were doing...
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| Leslie R says:
10/28/2013 5:03:18 AM
From ebay photos, I can say it has a star in the peghead a crown at the 1st fret, slitted tonering, Earl Scruggs is written in cursive on the truss rod cover and what appears to be Scruggs SRll or SPll handwritten on the serial number plate inside the rim. A*129364. If you can tell anything about this banjo I would appreciate it.
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| Leslie R says:
10/28/2013 5:27:32 AM
From ebay photos, I can say it has a star in the peghead a crown at the 1st fret, slitted tonering, Earl Scruggs is written in cursive on the truss rod cover and what appears to be Scruggs SRll or SPll handwritten on the serial number plate inside the rim. A*129364. If you can tell anything about this banjo I would appreciate it.
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| rbergesch says:
10/29/2013 9:11:05 AM
Sounds like you have a later model than mine. Your serial number is later, and the SRII designation is post 1963; I have a copy of a 1963 Vega catalog on my BHO picture cache showing my stylke of Vega Scruggs, which was SR or ST (Scruggs Regular or Scruggs Tuner.) My instrument is from the early 1960s; with the simple block MOP inlays on the fretboard, and simple round holes in the tone-ring. Subsequently there were several iterations of tone ring design, and the inlays changed. You can see some pictures on my BHO homepage. Here is a link for Vega Serial #s:- mugwumps.com/acf_date.html
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