From the BRC Mailbox:
Dear Reader- Thank you for the detailed photos of the vintage V-41 Vega Martin banjo. This item was initially announced in a 1971 C.F. Martin price list for $850 without case, and thereafter it appeared in the Vega Martin 1972 catalogue. The shop logbook does not record this model instrument actually being manufactured until 1973, and it was advertised again in the 1976 VM catalogue.
The V-41 was the less expensive version of the fancy gold-plated and engraved V-45 banjo (retail $1650) designed to match the D-45 guitar. Both these models of banjo were available by special order only and reportedly fathered by Mike Longworth to attract the Bluegrass market.
The V-41 had a rosewood resonator and pot, and the resonator had a pearl abalone trim on its back edge. The neck was mahogany with a bound ebony fingerboard that featured distinctive hexagonal mother of pearl inlays. The metal parts were chrome-plated, and the heavy flat head tone ring was brass. Your banjo serial number 785 was one of a pair of V-41 five-stringers manufactured in 1974 per Shop Order #2187 in Nazareth, PA.
The last V-41 parts were made in 1977 and shipped to Japan for assembly. C.F. Martin produced only twenty-eight V-41-5 banjos, two V-41-P plectrums, and one V-41-T tenor banjo.
My estimate is that your single-owner instrument is probably worth around $1450-1750 these days. Thanks again for sharing the story of your unique and historical banjo.
In this circa 1975 photo, the new V-41-5 owner visits an iconic site in Pennsylvania.
From the BRC: Be safe, be well, and keep on picking.
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