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Vintage Vega Style N 17 Fret Irish Tenor Banjo with Case and Upgrades, Serial No. 54410

Check out the video and the soundcloud link!

This is a fantastic beginner's instrument for a musician interested in traditional Irish music.  If you're hesitant about getting your feet wet with other listings that require work - that you either don't want to pay for elsewhere, or do yourself - please keep reading.  The planetary ABM tuners, made in Germany, are a huge upgrade for this instrument and I specifically installed them to work with GDAE tuning.  The current set of strings is a GHS Custom Shop Celtic Tenor Banjo set (14,24,32,42).  The bridge and Renaissance head are a great fit as well; such a tremendous difference in tone when compared to a slack skin head and friction tuners that don't stay put.  This fella is ready to take out of the case and play.  

The hooks and hoop appear to be all original, and there is a no-knot tailpiece as well.  Some of the nickel finish is worn off the hooks and armrest, but it just adds character in my opinion; I took the majority of it apart (not the neck) and cleaned each individual hook and the armrest.  What I believe to be celluloid around the rim is in good shape too. 

When I bought it, I had a very reputable luthier tap one of the frets that was slightly raised and their shop was pleased with the outcome.  There is a minor bit of fret wear as you can see in the photo, but it is not something that significantly detracts from the overall tone and the shop didn't recommend additional work either.  Some small divots in the fingerboard are to be expected given the age, but again, no recommendations to modify (hard to even see in the photos).  I put a small dab of clear Titebond in what looked to be a surface crack (no longer than my pinky nail) near the base side of the neck; it is practically invisible to the naked eye, and 99% of other people probably wouldn't have done anything about it, but I'm an OCD engineer, so go big or go home.  There are no other major cracks or repairs.  Please feel free to email me with any questions or requests for additional pictures; I'd be happy to help.  

The case looks measurably better than when I first purchased the banjo.  I replaced all of the old upholstery, cleaned it up, added leather trim around the exterior, strengthened nicks, etc. with glue, and rewrapped the handle with leather.  There is a lock that is not 100% functional, but two other clasps do close.  It's not a flawless makeover and I wouldn't swing this thing around in circles, but this is the ticket if you want to tuck it under your arm on your way from your home to the pub. I'm sure you've seen plenty of other cases that are hanging on by a thread - this is not one of those. 

Lastly, I am also including the skin head, bridge, and friction tuners that the banjo came with before its facelift; it's only fitting that it all goes together.  

You will be hard-pressed to find a better Vega listing for a budding Irish musician! This is one tank of a tenor banjo with nearly 100 years of American history. Take it for century-long victory lap!

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Listed5 years ago
ConditionVery Good (Used)
Very Good items may show a few slight marks or scratches but are fully functional and in overall great shape.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • '57 Mini Twin Combo
Finish
  • Natural
Categories
Year
  • 1923
Made In
  • United States

Buck's

Houston, TX, United States
Sales:2
Joined Reverb:2019

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