After the difficult 1977 luthier strike at C. F. Martin Co., the corporate enthusiasm for manufacturing banjos sharply declined. Parts were soon shipped from Nazareth, PA, to Canada or Japan for assembly, and record keeping of serial numbers slid into disarray. Despite this unfavorable marketing climate, the Martin Company launched a top of the line Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe resonator banjo series in 1978 based on the unique tone ring designed by Vega in 1909.
A few standard open back and long neck Tu-Ba-Phone 5-stringers were manufactured in 1976 with properly recorded serial numbers, but the logbook soon ended with #1945. The very last banjo built at the Nazareth factory was #1969 as documented with a Letter of Authenticity by Martin historian Mike Longworth. But, what about the missing 23 other banjos bearing #1946 through #1968? The BRC has received information on only one Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe, but its serial number was a duplicate and spurious. Inside its resonator, however, it bore the C.F. Martin logo- a very distinctive and unique marking (click to enlarge).
If any reader has information on a Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe 5-stringer or any C.F. Martin banjo bearing a serial number between #1946-1968, let us know via our Vega Martin Banjo Info mailbox. We would be delighted to hear from you.
P.S. After Martin sold the Vega line overseas in 1979, Deering purchased the Vega brand name rights in 1989 and now offers an open back Vega #2 Banjo featuring the classic tubaphone tone ring.
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