1922 Vega Style R "Whyte Laydie" Tenor Banjo _, Very Good, $1,050.00

Vega was a Boston, Massachusetts-based musical instrument manufacturer that is today most associated with their excellently crafted banjos. Vega’s popularity arguably peaked from the late 19th century into the early 20th century although the company existed in its original form up until it was purchased by Martin in the early 1970s. This particular Vega banjo features the highly sought-after “Whyte Laydie” tone ring with a 17-fret “short-scale” laminated maple neck and Vega “Star” logo on the headstock. Tenor banjos were especially popular in Celtic music but their unique tonality makes them a great addition to a wide variety of musical styles. A serial number of 49118 is stamped into the rim, giving us an estimate of 1922 as the approximate year of manufacture. The serial also matches the one stamped into the square dowel. Cosmetically there is some general wear along the outside of the rim and along the neck as well as some general tarnishing over time of the metal rim. None of these cosmetic issues seem to have any effect on playability in our opinion. The binding is pretty much intact on the neck save for a spot of missing binding on the bass hand side from about the 15th to the 17th fret. Nut width is apprx. 1 7/36th” and the neck has a nice slim gradual taper with a very comfortable “V” shape to it. The original Grover tuning machines feature nicely-aged Ivoriod tuning buttons. Three of the tuners are missing the small screw-on “locking mechanism” but one tuner still retains it. The head is roughly 11 1/4th” in diameter (measured between edges of the rim) and has a depth of roughly 2 3/4th”. It weighs in at roughly 6 lbs 7 ounces and feels nicely balanced. It has been re-strung and set-up by our in-house guitar tech. This Vega is a fantastic sounding Tenor banjo that will take you back to the roaring 1920s in a single strum! No case included.