This is a very unique Vega banjo that is stamped "Special" indicating a special order from the Vega factory. Vega expert, Mike Amato, has record of only 5 Vega Special tenor banjos and this is the earliest example. The rim dates to 1912 and the neck to 1913. It is my belief that the original configuration of the banjo was with a plectrum neck which was sent back to the factory to have the custom tenor neck made for it.
Neck - made from maple a nicely carved heel, ebony fretboard with custom inlays, typical Vega peghead inlay, dark brown backstrap, and new ABM tuners.
Rim - "Large pot" Tu-Ba-Phone made with maple, tortiose celluloid binding, and nickel plated bracket band
Setup - GDAE tuning for Irish trad
Case - Non-original Vega case. It originally was in a plectrum case.
Notes - I have owned and played this banjo for the past 5 years or so. The Vega large pot Tubaphone banjo are one of the best open back banjos for Irish trad. This banjo has a spin on resonator and also included is a friction fit Vega "pie plate" resonator. There is minimal fret wear. The binding has shrunk and is pulling away on the inside of the rim. The nickel plating has nice patina to it. There are new ABM "small shaft" tuners installed.
Specs:
- Scale length - 20.75"
- Nut width - 1.10
- # of frets - 16
- Weight - 7lbs without resonator
- Action height - .090" @ 12th fret
- Strings - PB - 12, 20w, 30w, 40w
- Bridge - 5/8" 3 leg maple ebony
- Head - Remo Renaissance
- Serial number - 29133, 30353