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Vega Martin Stories

Vega Martin Stories

VM Long Neck Folklore Banjo

January 15, 2022

N.J. says:
January 2022

Dear BRC: I have a Seeger SS-5 Folklore Model 1972 Economy Model # 130041 that I would like to sell. I am the only owner. Purchased the instrument from McCabes in Santa Monica in the early 70’s. Might you provide me with a starting point for a price? It is in perfect condition. Thank you, NJ

BRC replies:

Dear N.J. -Thank you for the prompt and detailed photos of your Vega Martin long neck (SS-5) Folklore Model banjo with serial number 130041.Your 5-stringer appears to be a transitional instrument assembled in 1970 not long after C.F. Martin purchased the Vega franchise on May 15, 1970. According to available data, the last Boston-built banjo in the Vega line that was manufactured in 1970 bore S.N. 130048. Like your instrument, it was probably constructed from inventory inherited by the Martin Company.  After C.F. Martin purchased the Vega brand, yellow stickers identifying the new ownership and displaying the traditional Vega six-digit serial number appeared inside the pots for a while. The letter “M” preceded the serial number denoting Martin proprietorship (in nearby fine print) while its factory in Nazareth, PA, retooled to begin building the newly acquired banjo line.
The first serial number in the C.F. Martin luthier log book is #130248 which was recorded in 1971, and a new system of numbers (#2-1945) was initiated in 1972. In general, all banjos assembled or manufactured at the Nazareth, PA, factory routinely have a C.F. Martin decal on the back of the peghead- which is absent on your banjo. Per my files, the highlight “VEGALON Weatherproof plastic heads are standard equipment” first appears in a 1961 Vega flyer when the plant was located at 155 Columbus Avenue in Boston. It was a standard issue during that decade and is again cited in the 1968 catalogue.
According to the Vega catalogue of 1968 from the Needham Heights factory near Boston, MA, the long neck economy Folklore Model, which is styled after the more expensive Pete Seeger (P.S.) Model, sold for $270 without case.  It featured a 10-ply maple rim, a heavy notched tension hoop, a 3-piece maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, pearl dots, a shaded mahogany finish, nickel-plated parts; but the type tone ring not specified. In the inaugural 1970 Vega Martin banjo catalogue, the long neck Folklore Model was nearly identical in design to its Boston era predecessor, but it had adapted the “Wonder” model metal tone ring. The SS-5 listed for $285 in the 1971 VM price list. An estimate of the current worth of your banjo might be around $1-1.5K depending on condition. Of note, the Vega long neck Pete Seeger Model (P.S.) banjos manufactured during the Boston era in the 1960s (each featuring bell brass Tube-a-phone tone ring, bracket band, and notched tension hoop) are valued collectors` items these days and priced in the neighborhood of $2-4K or more. For additional history on the Vega Martin family of long neck instruments, please enter “long neck” into the search engine on the home page of my Banjo Rehab Center website. Thank you for sharing your banjo and its story with the BRC readership.
With appreciation, Barry

N.J. says:

Barry- Extraordinary review and commentary about my 5 string. It is your knowledge and expertise that is so commendable and appreciated.

Gratefully, NJ

Vega Martin Stories

Last of a Long Line

November 6, 2021

S.P. says:
Autumn, 2021

I have a Martin Vega Vox I with serial number 1965. Does this place it as the last in the series ending with the Vox V serial number 1969??
This banjo appears to never have been played. Reportedly it had rested in a closet for years ( since 1978??)
Are there valued characteristics in the Vox line ?? Thanks for any information.

 

BRC replies:

S.P.:  My Vega Vox consultant Dr. Ron has been studying the history of your banjo, but we need some photos to clarify its story. Please send me some detailed photos of the instrument inside and out to help determine its features. Thanks from the BRC, Barry

 

Dr. Ron says:

Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you, as I was trying to do some additional research on this subject. I had some conflicting serial number information in my files on the two Vega Vox V’s. The entire serial number range for all Vega banjos built by C. F. Martin in Nazareth and Canada in the year 1979 was: #1946 to #1969. Despite the fact that there were more Vega Vox V shop orders on the list in the post 1977 strike period, the only following Vega Vox-Ultra V models (all plectrums) were completed: #1800; 1946; 1947; 1950; and 1964. Two additional Vega Vox V’s were never completed (#1949 and #1951).The very last of the Martin-Vega banjos (#1969) from Nazareth/Canada was also a Vega Vox (thus ending a 52-year production run of that model).

So, this Vega Vox I is most likely correct and all original as #1965. It looks in great shape other than the peghead blemishes (hopefully, the original tailpiece is intact and not cracked). Even the case was standard Martin issue at the time.

After 1979, Martin-Vega models (Tubaphone #7 replicas, not Voxes) were made in Asia, until Galaxy Trading of S. Korea took over the brand. Galaxy resurrected the Vega Vox I model briefly before going into bankruptcy shortly thereafter, but these are distinctively different in using rounded flange holes, non-standard Vega fingerboard inlays, and a primitive Tubaphone tone ring with 5 or 6 large holes (not the original 30 hole, slotted or dog-bone/barbell design as seen in the top photo).

Hope this helps, and all the best to you, Dr. Ron

 

S.P. replies:

Thank you very much, Barry! More than I had hoped! Please thank Dr. Ron, too. Cheers!

Vega Martin Stories

Decoding a Vega Martin Deluxe

August 14, 2021

Dear BRC Mailbox: (Summer, 2021)

I have inherited a Vega 5 string banjo, and I am told by a local shop that the internal serial number is 1223 and was likely built in the 70’s. It does not have any Martin decals. The back of the peg head has a single star design reminiscent of a compass rose. The back is quite unique. It is a 6 segmented pie like design. Since I know nothing about banjos I am seeking any information that I can get. I have photos if you can provide an email address. Although Canadian, my in-laws likely bought this in Tennessee, as they were blue grass fans. Thanks much, S.B.

Reply from the BRC:

Dear S.B.,

Thank you for the detailed photos of your ornate banjo. Although your 5-stringer is a high quality circa 1977-78 instrument made of C.F. Martin parts, it is doubtful that it was assembled at the Nazareth, PA, factory. The serial number is a duplicate of a different type entry level instrument made in 1975. I have two theories about the construction of your Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe model, and please consult my <banjorehab.com> website for the posting on Jan. 9, 2016 for details (enter deluxe in the homepage search engine). Your banjo may have been assembled overseas from inventory inherited by the Galaxy conglomerate that purchased the Vega franchise from Martin in 1979.  Around 1975, however, a few high-end banjo parts were sent to a warranty Martin repair shop in Toronto for assembly when the C.F. Martin interest in manufacturing banjos was beginning to wane.  Sometime around 1976-77, the Martin Company leased industrial floor space on Milner Ave., in Scarborough, Ontario, to transfer the manufacturing of its Vega banjo line up north, and parts were then shipped to Canada. The story then becomes a little sketchy, but some top end instruments were assembled in Ontario after banjo production reportedly ceased in Nazareth in 1977 because of a difficult luthier strike there. My guess is that your Canadian in-laws probably purchased your banjo from the Toronto or Ontario venues. Question: does the inside of the pie-sectioned resonator have a small Martin decal on it as shown on my aforesaid website posting? Thank you for sharing your instrument questions with me.

With appreciation, Barry

 

S.B. replies:
Just went to the link you mentioned. The banjo is identical, just not branded Martin inside the back. There is no label inside the banjo, nor even a shadow of one. The Scarborough assembly location would have been only a few miles from my in-laws. Thanks, S.B.

 

From the BRC: Be safe, be well, be vaxed

Vega Martin Stories

Inside a Vega Martin Wonder

June 19, 2021

From the BRC Mailbox:

Dear BRC: Can you help me determine what model my banjo is and what year it was manufactured from the serial number? The number printed inside on the pot is 331. It says CF Martin & Co printed above the number… Any information is appreciated, thanks. D.R.

 

Dear Reader:

Thank you for the prompt and clear photos as requested. Your instrument # 331 is a “Wonder” model manufactured in Nazareth, PA, at the Martin factory in late 1972. In addition to the C.F. Martin decal on the interior of the pot, a similar and standard decal is located on the back of the peg head as per your photographs. In the 1970 transitional Vega Martin banjo catalogue, this entry level banjo featured a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a heavy notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, geared tunings pegs, a 3 piece maple rim, blackwood fingerboard, pearl dots, a resonator with 4 section metal tone flanges, nickel plated metal parts, a plastic head, armrest, and a shaded mahogany finish. In the 1971 C.F. Martin price list, it retailed for $345 without case. The Wonder tone ring was upgraded to brass in the 1976 Vega Martin catalogue.

 

 

There is a feature of interest on the interior of this instrument which was assembled not too long after Martin purchased the Vega franchise in 1970. The “VM” initials and abbreviated serial number “31” stamped on both the inner surface of the metal tone ring skirt and on the top of the wooden rim (above) are probably labeling on inventory inherited by C. F. Martin from the Vega workshop where these markings had guided the Boston luthiers in assembling matching parts. A couple of years ago, a website visitor from Europe wrote the BRC Mailbox including a picture of the tone ring on his more up-scale F-VIP Vega Martin banjo made in 1975 which had the matching serial number engraved on the outer tone ring (below) as displayed also on the interior of the pot.

My impression is that this workshop labeling strategy represented a routine Boston quality control measure that was subsequently adopted by C.F. Martin during its banjo building era in Nazareth, PA. We should all make a note to inspect our tone rings for hidden markings when changing the head. Thanks for your query and best wishes from the BRC.

Be well, Barry

Vega Martin Stories

T2XL and Temps

February 27, 2021

From the BRC Mailbox:

Dear M.C.: Thank you for the prompt photos of your Vega Martin Tu-Ba-Phone long neck banjo with serial number 1811 manufactured per Shop Order 2339. This instrument was built in Nazareth, PA, in 1977 which was a year that C.F. Martin experienced a difficult luthier strike. The Company`s banjo enterprise began to wind-down in 1976 when V45-5, V41-5, and FW-5 models were shipped to Japan for assembly.  Soon thereafter, VW-5 parts were transported to Canada for the same purpose, and serial numbers began to become undependable.

 

The first long neck Tu-Ba-Phone or T2XL with serial number 1607 was produced in early 1976, and this model appears in the 1976 VM catalogue. The last T2XL with serial number 1915 was built in 1977. The banjo shop logbook ends with serial number 1945. The very last banjo manufactured in Nazareth by C.F. Martin was a 4-string Vega Vox IV assigned serial number 1969, and it was accompanied by an official letter of authentication by Martin’s first historian Mike Longworth.

 

 

 
In 1978, Martin published a flyer advertising the new Tu-Ba-Phone line of instruments, but the T2XL long neck model was not illustrated in this two page document. Please consult my <banjorehab.com> website for “Vega Martin Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe: Lost or Missing Link?” posted on January 9, 2016, which provides a background on this unique instrument line. Also, please check-out the “A Long Way & Long Neck Vega Martin” posting of August 15, 2020, which details an identical T2XL to yours with serial number 1807 that was also manufactured per Shop Order 2339. Both of these earlier postings can be found by entering “tu-ba-phone” in the search engine on the BRC homepage. Thanks again for your query to the BRC website and letting our readership learn about your lovely T2XL.

With appreciation, Barry

 

Folks in the Show-Me State respond to fickle weather changes by intoning a remark attributed to favorite son  Mark Twain: If you don’t like the weather in Missouri, wait five minutes. One day earlier this month, frosty February temperatures surprisingly climbed to 55 degrees. Our Wednesday afternoon outdoor jam session, on winter-pause since Thanksgiving, promptly mobilized for a fresh air picking session on the steps of the local church where our gals sing in the choir.

Under the bluest of skies, we musicians picked and sang Bluegrass standards while warmed by a blazing winter sun. The next day, our environs were bitterly swept by a wind-whipped snowfall, and the overnight temperature on the following evening dropped to 9 degrees. A glacial polar vortex soon followed. Hopefully, however,  our afternoon in the sunshine foretells that springtime is somewhere just around the corner.

From the BRC: be safe, be well, and “…keep on the sunny side of life. “