Can you help me identify my grandfather’s banjo? When my father showed me the banjo over 25 years ago, I found another on eBay just like it with the exact same skin. The banjo is original.
It's a Vega Professional, late '20s or '30s.
Tenor Vega is the ship painted on the head or is it a clear head with the ship inside the resonator (wooden round back).
Never mind, I didn’t see the torn head, so it’s painted skin
This is an excellent instrument.
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Originally posted by DeDeCan you help me identify my grandfather’s banjo? When my father showed me the banjo over 25 years ago, I found another on eBay just like it with the exact same skin. The banjo is original.
It’s a painted skin. 25 years ago I saw the exact same instrument with the exact same painted skin.
Take off the resonator, I bet it’s a style m tubaphone. A great little banjo.
Probably a Vegaphone Professional, not a Vega style M. Removing the resonator will allow you to see the ID stamps on the dowelstick. The model name and the serial number will be there. Share the serial number and we will be able to tell you the year of manufacturer. There should be one slotted screw on the back of the resonator that, when removed, will allow the resonator to be removed as well.
Banjo heads are disposable and breakable. You Having seen the same decorated head on another banjo is an interesting coincidence, but it has no significance.
Bob Smakula
I notice that the painting is rather made for the banjo staying on a stand, when it’s played you would see a vertical horizon with a boat leaning in a strange position.
I took off the resonator. Here are the photos
Still a Vega Professional, from 1930.
Does the serial number make it a 1928 then?
1930.
Don't ya just LOVE it when you ask a question, and there are over 130 THOUSAND banjo lovers available to share what they know??
I sure do!
