To my ear the Vega tubaphones have more depth and a distinct sweetness to their tone. B&D Silverbells are wonderfully bright and responsive with great cutting power in a band setting. Both are a genuine delight to play. One of my mentors who was an active pro in the late '20's and 30's once said if a banjo could be made with the two low strings of a Vega and the two high strings of a B&D, it would be the best one could find. I think it's fair to say that there are individual banjos out there from both makers which genuinely fit that description. From a personal standpoint, my Vega gets the most compliments for its distinctively sweet tone. --Cjazz

Hi! Several years ago a friend lent me an old tenor Vega 9 Deluxe, an instrument refurbished by a famous American luthier. It appears to have been the Bill Johnson's banjo, visible on the ground in a famous photo of King Oliver's orchestra. I played it in a half hour set and when I had to return it my heart ached: it was to me the most beautiful and best sounding banjo ever, IMO. I think they cost a lot of money, but if I were younger and had a decent income, I would definitely look for one like that, If I were playing the plectrum .

I have two beautiful Vegas and a B&D Sultana with a “soft pedal” knee mute.

I love ‘em all

and I love to FAFO with that knee mute which my wife hates

She prefers the sweeter sound of the Vega

The difference to me is this…

No matter how fast I strum the Vega it always sounds angelic

But if I strum the Sultana real hard it sounds demonic

quote:

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Originally posted by guitarbanjoman

I have two beautiful Vegas and a B&D Sultana with a “soft pedal” knee mute.

I love ‘em all

and I love to FAFO with that knee mute which my wife hates

She prefers the sweeter sound of the Vega

The difference to me is this…

No matter how fast I strum the Vega it always sounds angelic

But if I strum the Sultana real hard it sounds demonic

Like a speaker playing too loud...

distortion!

Good or bad? 

Depends...

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Since Ome copied B&D, I think a Tubby would be of more interest because it’s less likely to sound similar to your Ome.

I started 65 years ago with a Vega Little Wonder tenor, and later upgraded it to a Vega Professional. In 1987 I got an Ome Juggernaut. In 2001 I broke it at the heel, had it repaired and sold it to buy an Ome Mogul. In 2015 I bought a B&D Silver Bell Sultana from the late Polle Flanoe, who specialised in B&Ds. I sent Polle my Mogul to have a new set up etc. Polle then bought an Ome, and asked if I would sell him my Mogul. At the end of his life I think that he had found the Holy Grail banjo. Ome.

I think that my Mogul has a depth that I have not had in any other banjo. (You can hear it on Youtube where I am playing in a 1930s style big band - the Harlem Jazz Orchestra. (Unfortunately with some numbers the sound is slightly out of sync with the video!)

However, I do think that the sound you get from a banjo is a personal thing. No two banjos sound the same. No two players sound the same. Last week another banjo player did a couple of numbers on my banjo. He "scrubbed" it with a stiff arm, and got a scratchy sound. I tend to play with a snap of the wrist. I remember though being flattened by my bass player when I first swapped the Vega for the Ome. I asked him what he thought. He said, "It just sounds like you playing the banjo!"

Can I add Weymann banjos into the comparison list? I'd also like to know if there are any "playability" questions that might make one better or worse or are there any "mechanical" aspects or dealbreakers to the brand to consider?
I have three potential banjos on my radar, but only one, maybe two (a Weymmann & Vega) that I can actually easily play and check out.
Thx.