Used c.1922 Vega Tubaphone #9 with a factory 5-string neck and matching serial numbers on the dowel and rim in excellent condition and including a period hard shell case. This is one of the finest 5-string banjos produced during the golden days of American banjo production in the early decades of the 20th century, featuring several flourishes of old-world craftsmanship including elaborate mother of pearl inlays, wood marquetry, and intricate heel carving. While a definitive production year is hard to pin down, the presence of the Fairbanks brand stamped into the dowel stick suggests that this example is from the earlier part of this model's production, likely around 1922 or 1923. An original Tu-Ba-Phone tone ring and a Fiberskyn-style head contribute to a great wistful old-time sound with a lovely balance of articulation and overtones.
This banjo came to us with a loose fingerboard, and our luthiers used that as an opportunity to correct an upbow and future-proof the neck by installing a carbon fiber reinforcement in a channel beneath the fretboard. Those repairs along with a dowel stick reset has this banjo playing perfectly up and down the neck with comfortable low action, a touch of relief, and proper break angle over the replacement bridge. The flamed maple neck is a substantial rounded over V, deep from top to bottom and chubby in the shoulders, a comfortable vintage profile that is a joy to navigate. Fretwire shows almost no signs of use and appears to be original or else an exceptionally competent re-fret with period correct wire. The lacquer finish also appears to be original and is in great shape; it shows some honest wear and checking here and there, but no signs of repairs, overspray or touch-ups. A geared set of vintage Waverly tuning machines is non-original, and the Kersher-style tailpiece is correct to this model but may be a more recent replacement.
- C.1922
- 11-13/16" maple rim
- Original Tu-Ba-Phone tone ring
- Three piece flamed maple/ebony/maple neck
- Mother-of-pearl inlays: fretboard, headstock, heelcap
- Grained ivoroid fretboard binding
- Faux tortoise rim binding
- 1-3/16" nut width
- 27" scale length
- Replacement vintage Waverly geared tuning machines
- Friction 5th string tuning machine
- Replacement modern 5-string bridge
- 7lbs 11oz
Period case is in fair condition, with interior upholstery separating in several places. All latches close and function properly.
