The ABM posted yesterday that they now have on display Grandpa Jones' Vega banjo. The only problem is that it was not his.
If this is the same banjo that was recently listed at Carter's Vintage Music, which I believe it is, then it was Mark Jones' banjo and not Grandpa's.
We discussed this previously on BHO but I could not find it right away to add (if someone can, please do).
I will attach the pages from Jones’ book below where he described all the banjos he owned.
This banjo, a nickel plated VIP, was purchased by Jones from Martin and given to his son Mark.
Jones' banjo was given to him by Vega. Later, Bill Nelson saw Jones' playing it on Hee Haw and had Jones send it back so they could gold plate it. In other words, the real Grandpa Jones' banjo was a Bill Nelson era Vega VIP that was gold plated. This is not that one. I've also seen some photos of it that shows the armrest was engraved.
When Carter’s listed it I reached out to them. They contacted Jones’ daughters (who were selling it) and the daughters claimed that “Grandpa used it as a backup” and that “he and Mark traded back and forth”. Seems like a bit of a stretch.
Carter’s did agree with me that it was likely Mark’s VIP but concluded that I was angling for a discount or something (I had no interest in buying it, just the correct history).
Mark was a talented public personality and he deserves credit.
Since they are a museum in pursuit of the banjo’s history, I hope they will follow up on this info and include it in the exhibit. The story of Jones' buying this to give to his son is a good narrative to attach to the banjo and does not reduce its importance as a piece of country music and banjo history.
But it ain't Grandpa's 'jo.
https://www.facebook.com/American.Banjo.Museum
Thanks for the history. Based on paperwork received with the banjo from his daughter, Alisa, we understand this to be Grandpa Jones backup banjo. As we're aware that Grandpa Jones owned a number of banjos throughout his career our post on Facebook should not have stated or inferred (nor does the exhibit state) that the banjo on display was his only banjo. We will, however, add the information you provided regarding the lineage of that particular banjo and Mark Jones connection to it to the exhibit. That said, the September 1980 cover of Frets magazine (about ten years after his main banjo had been gold plated and engraved early in the Hee Haw run) shows Grandpa Jones playing a nickel plated, unengraved Vega VIP with an Ottenger style tailpiece (maybe an old photo taken while his main VIP was away being engraved and plated?) Thanks again for the additional history. Johnny Baier/AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM
Edited by - allfrets on 02/06/2023 08:34:45
quote:
Originally posted by allfretsThanks for the history. Based on paperwork received with the banjo from his daughter, Alisa, we understand this to be Grandpa Jones backup banjo. As we're aware that Grandpa Jones owned a number of banjos throughout his career our post on Facebook should not have stated or inferred (nor does the exhibit state) that the banjo on display was his only banjo. We will, however, add the information you provided regarding the lineage of that particular banjo and Mark Jones connection to it to the exhibit. That said, the September 1980 cover of Frets magazine (about ten years after his main banjo had been gold plated and engraved early in the Hee Haw run) shows Grandpa Jones playing a nickel plated, unengraved Vega VIP with an Ottenger style tailpiece (maybe an old photo taken while his main VIP was away being engraved and plated?) Thanks again for the additional history. Johnny Baier/AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM
looks an aweful lot like the same banjo! I did think the assumption because he gave this to mark eventually that he never played it was suspect. I think this is pretty good proof he used this banjo. Especially with that tailpiece. Honestly, paperwork from his daughter is probably a lot better history than a few papragraphs form a book that partially recounts his banjos. Especially since its obviously incomplete, it mentions buying a vip for his son, then immeadiltly mentions him playing a vip on hee haw that got replated. So.. its safe to say this banjo was in the hands of grandpa jones, maybe he played it on stage a lot , maybe not. But either way its cool and looks good in the mueseum and is certainly connected to him enough to say its one of his banjos.
Edited by - kyleb on 02/06/2023 09:08:15
heres a video of him picking a vip with a vega style tailpiece : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQT0irw0hQk. but.. notice the headstock is black painted, unlike the one in the exhibt.
Edited by - kyleb on 02/06/2023 09:14:40
quote:
Originally posted by kylebquote:
Originally posted by allfretsThanks for the history. Based on paperwork received with the banjo from his daughter, Alisa, we understand this to be Grandpa Jones backup banjo. As we're aware that Grandpa Jones owned a number of banjos throughout his career our post on Facebook should not have stated or inferred (nor does the exhibit state) that the banjo on display was his only banjo. We will, however, add the information you provided regarding the lineage of that particular banjo and Mark Jones connection to it to the exhibit. That said, the September 1980 cover of Frets magazine (about ten years after his main banjo had been gold plated and engraved early in the Hee Haw run) shows Grandpa Jones playing a nickel plated, unengraved Vega VIP with an Ottenger style tailpiece (maybe an old photo taken while his main VIP was away being engraved and plated?) Thanks again for the additional history. Johnny Baier/AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM
looks an aweful lot like the same banjo! I did think the assumption because he gave this to mark eventually that he never played it was suspect. I think this is pretty good proof he used this banjo. Especially with that tailpiece. Honestly, paperwork from his daughter is probably a lot better history than a few papragraphs form a book that partially recounts his banjos. Especially since its obviously incomplete, it mentions buying a vip for his son, then immeadiltly mentions him playing a vip on hee haw that got replated. So.. its safe to say this banjo was in the hands of grandpa jones, maybe he played it on stage a lot , maybe not. But either way its cool and looks good in the mueseum and is certainly connected to him enough to say its one of his banjos.
I guess you did not read all three pages I posted. He explains were he got his VIP.
I was a little out of order, Vega gave him a PROII. He bought the VIP for himself, then later bought one from Martin for Mark.
He also states that Bill Nelson from Vega saw him playing his VIP on Hee Haw and asked him to send it back for plating. It stands to reason that there are plenty of images of him playing it in nickel before it was gold.
RE: the Oettinger Tailpiece, both his, and Mark's had that style tailpiece. There are plenty of photos of Jones playing his gold plated banjo clearly showing that. Also photos of Mark playing his.
Since he had a Pro II, it seems that he might use that one as a "back up", but I'm not his family.
That said, where is the gold one?
Here is his book:
amazon.com/Everybodys-Grandpa-...870494392
abebooks.com/9780870494390/Eve...94392/plp
It is a pretty good read.
quote:
Originally posted by Joel HooksHere is his book:
amazon.com/Everybodys-Grandpa-...870494392
abebooks.com/9780870494390/Eve...94392/plp
It is a pretty good read.
thanks!
I believe that Mark Jones still works at the Folk Center in Mountain View, AR as a sound man. You could probably contact him there and settle this.
quote:
Originally posted by NutsI believe that Mark Jones still works at the Folk Center in Mountain View, AR as a sound man. You could probably contact him there and settle this.
He passed in August 2021, likely why his sisters sold his banjo.
https://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/memorialpage.asp?id=60153&locid=52
Edited by - Joel Hooks on 02/09/2023 12:26:01
Sad to hear but thanks for letting me know.
