Super clean all original banjos with original cases in clean condition, original tags, and original sales receipt sell for much more money and more quickly than heavily played banjos. As-is banjos that need cleaning, a neck set and general setup sell for less (as much as $600 less) than banjos that have been recently serviced to professional standards.

The market for plectrum banjos is somewhat small and demand varies widely around the world. I could not sell a plectrum banjo in South Carolina, but I know where I can sell them.

Unless it is in super clean original condition, it's probably worth the value of the rim alone. There is next to no market for plectrum banjos.

This one was listed at 700 but a best offer was accepted, so likely less than that.

ebay.com/itm/396355063193

You might take the first $500 offer.

$500 for a good Tu-ba-phone pot with its dowel stick and tailpiece would be a great deal. I'll make the first offer. Paul

Fantastic! You have your first offer. That was easy.

quote:

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Originally posted by rupickin5

Any Vega collector and/or plectrum players opinion as to value range?
Thanks, Brian

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Not enough information. It can be anything from a NO 2 Special to Whyte Laydie NO2, Senator, Regent, Vegaphone,  Tubaphone NO 3, Imperial Electric, Deluxe, Artist... ? 

Post some pictures so we have some idea what you have.

That said, the value is normally the pot but there are three probable sizes... So waddaya got?

Ack! I didn't see the title. A 1923 (if that's the correct year) plectrum neck can be one of three styles and two sizes. Pictures of the banjo, front and back will tell me which it is. 1923 was a transition year -- many (most?) Vegaphones had NO 3 necks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/396355063193

Mike, it's this eBay Vega.
10 15/16" hide head. A bit grimy but all original. Neck is dead-straight but, to my eye, probably needs a neck reset, or shims

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Originally posted by mikehalloran

Ack! I didn't see the title. A 1923 (if that's the correct year) plectrum neck can be one of three styles and two sizes. Pictures of the banjo, front and back will tell me which it is. 1923 was a transition year -- many (most?) Vegaphones had NO 3 necks.

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Wait, you you bought it then you asked the value?

Well — late 1923 or later. Vegaphones from this era were the same banjo with a larger resonator, an engraved Presto and 28 individual flanges.

The Style N/Senator "close" resonator is not original to this banjo but worth $100–150 in the Classifieds. A non-engraved Presto tailpiece replaces the original NoKnot. Being an un-punched 4-string, $75 is easy to get if not in a hurry. 

Although the spec calls for a maple neck without carving, this mahogany NO 3 neck was used on the early Vegaphone plectrums for a few years. Some are stamped TUBAPHONE NO 3, others VEGAPHONE and more than a few with both stamps on the dowell. I have owned a few mid-late '20s non-standard Vega plectrums that were clearly original.

Not going out on a limb by stating that Vega had guessed wrong on the plectrum banjo market in the early 1920s and spent years using up all those necks that they made.

Without the neck, that banjo can be parted out for about what you paid, perhaps a bit more if a neck maker has a standing order for a nice mid-late '20s Tubaphone Professional sized pot. Older pots are finished differently at the back which makes them a little more desirable. My Bart Reiter Vegaphone conversion uses this pot and I also have a circa 1920–21 NO 3 plectrum plus a Senator plectrum from the same era.

The best place I know to make money is selling it as-is is in he EU where plectrums are more popular than in the States. Shipping is not cheap but not horrible either. Being over 100 years old, much of the world exempts antiques from import duty.

Thanks so much Mike for a thoughtful & reasoned response!
I know my pre-war Gibsons but not up on Vega or Fairbanks info. I play in the Saturday St. Augustine farmers market "hootenanny" jam. Not a lot of bluegrass (there is some) there. It often feels like a super-sized jug-band! It's a large throng of musicians...sometimes 20-30! So, I play a lot of chord /rhythm comping...seems to support the rhythmic groove better. I thought maybe a straight up plectrum would be useful & fun. Again, thanks Mike!

 quote:

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Originally posted by mikehalloran

Well — late 1923 or later. Vegaphones from this era were the same banjo with a larger resonator, an engraved Presto and 28 individual flanges.

The Style N/Senator "close" resonator is not original to this banjo but worth $100–150 in the Classifieds. A non-engraved Presto tailpiece replaces the original NoKnot. Being an un-punched 4-string, $75 is easy to get if not in a hurry. 

Although the spec calls for a maple neck without carving, this mahogany NO 3 neck was used on the early Vegaphone plectrums for a few years. Some are stamped TUBAPHONE NO 3, others VEGAPHONE and more than a few with both stamps on the dowell. I have owned a few mid-late '20s non-standard Vega plectrums that were clearly original.

Not going out on a limb by stating that Vega had guessed wrong on the plectrum banjo market in the early 1920s and spent years using up all those necks that they made.

Without the neck, that banjo can be parted out for about what you paid, perhaps a bit more if a neck maker has a standing order for a nice mid-late '20s Tubaphone Professional sized pot. Older pots are finished differently at the back which makes them a little more desirable. My Bart Reiter Vegaphone conversion uses this pot and I also have a circa 1920–21 NO 3 plectrum plus a Senator plectrum from the same era.

The best place I know to make money is selling it as-is is in he EU where plectrums are more popular than in the States. Shipping is not cheap but not horrible either. Being over 100 years old, much of the world exempts antiques from import duty.

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quote:

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Originally posted by rupickin5

Thanks so much Mike for a thoughtful & reasoned response!
I know my pre-war Gibsons but not up on Vega or Fairbanks info. I play in the Saturday St. Augustine farmers market "hootenanny" jam. Not a lot of bluegrass (there is some) there. It often feels like a super-sized jug-band! It's a large throng of musicians...sometimes 20-30! So, I play a lot of chord /rhythm comping...seems to support the rhythmic groove better. I thought maybe a straight up plectrum would be useful & fun. Again, thanks Mike!

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If you bought it to play, these are great. Stock bridge height is 1/2" but I've taken them down to 3/8" to keep them playable with metal strings (original would have been gut but no one does anymore). I played the guitar/banjo books in many theater orchestras over the decades with mine. 

Nothing wrong with light gauge metal strings tuned Chicago Standard (top 4 strings of a guitar). I don't like anything heavier than .011" on the top and prefer a wound G — but that's me. .011 .015 .022w .032w 

You will want to replace those tuners and not just because only two are original. You will get really tired of metal strings on friction tuners. That headstock can take a standard set of GOTOH planets without covering any of the mother of pearl. I would contact Smackula Fretted Instruments and have Bob hook you up—he can install those cool vintage buttons on them as well if you're uncomfortable with doing that yourself. Below is the headstock of my earlier NO 3 plectrum with 5-Star planets and its original buttons. My Reiter conversion has vintage, grained ivoroid buttons also.