vega banjo identification vega banjo identification

But, the neck had the upgraded crown inlay pattern like their mid range banjos, and originally a paddle peghead design (the new scroll design appeared in 1968). The 10-1/8" diameter rim has a calf skin head and most of it's original . The finish was shaded mahogany, and the metal rim parts were nickel plated. The melody banjo was the equivalent of a 4 string mandolin banjo. What can you tell me about the history and value of this one. Then by ink its written Folk Ranger. Id like to echo previous comments and thank you for a great, great website, chock full of useful information. Of course she did a beautiful job with it including turning its blond color into a brunette! The PS-5 is advertised in the 1970 and 1972 Vega/Martin catalogues but is absent from the 1976 catalogue where the No. I was disappointed because I badly wanted to see Scruggs models! Hope this helps and best wishes from the BRC, Barry, Gary- Thanks for your query. These data were generously provided to the BRC founder in 2000 by the family owned Martin Guitar department of history. The VIP-5 is known for its mellow sound, and the tone of my VIP-5 (SN 1364 circa 1974) was admired by a faculty member at a northeastern banjo camp a few years ago. vega banjo identification. Barry. Deering now offers the Tubaphone No. It appears to be serial number 231 (engraved). Ernie Ball 5-String Medium Stainless Steel Banjo Strings, 10-10 Gauge (P02309) Check Price at Amazon. Do you know how many tenor V41 banjos were made? Martin purchased the Vega brand in May in 1970 and just before the factory was transferred to Pennsylvania. "F" Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. Of note, the PS-5 had the `famous Vega Tube-a-phone tone ring rim`, a 3 piece ebony fingerboard, pearl dots, a neck-tension rod, nickel-plated rim parts, a shaded mahogany neck, and a 10 ply maple rim. Martin initiated its own serial number system in early 1972 which ran sequentially from #2 through #1945. Dr. Ron- the BRC staff and readers appreciate all the wonderful details and photos. Here's a bit of description on the various models: This was also the case for their mandolin banjo lines. From the BRC, Barry. Your banjo appears to be a hybrid assembled sometime in the 1980`s after C. F. Martin sold the Vega franchise overseas to the Galaxy conglomerate in 1979. TMC marketed this standard neck Tu-Ba-Phone banjoas item No. Martin began shipping parts overseas for assembly. It is important to note that there are exceptions to every rule and the following is only a general guide for identifying Gibson "A" Style mandolins. The F-VIP is first mentioned briefly on a front page of the 1970 Vega Martin catalogue, and it retailed for $490 in the VM price list of 1971. I am wondering what you can tell me about a Vega long neck banjo with Martin stamp on the back of the headstock and inside, serial number 82? C.F. The VM price list in 1971 quoted a sales tag of $545 for the Pro-5 without case. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for your query to the BRC and the abovephoto link. C.F. Greg also originally hand made the round hole Tubaphone tone rings, but now they have a fairly well honed machine manufacturing process. In my files, the PS-5 is seen in a Vega (Boston) flyer in 1961 where it lists for $309. Thats when I decided to modify this rather bluegrassy bright (and plenty of loud) sounding Folk banjo a bit. Your Vega Wonder (VW) plectrum banjo SN 129 was one of six `VW-Plec` 4 string banjos made in Nazareth, PA, by C. F. Martin per Shop Order #2105 in mid 1972. Despite its puzzling serial number, your instrument is a Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe 5-string. Id appreciate your comments please & thanks, Linda. Both the VW-5 and FW-5 appear in the 1961 Vega ((155 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA) catalogue but featuring a 5 ply rim in the early design. Hope this helps and thanks for your post. After the difficult 1977 luthier strike at the C.F. FREE SHIPPING! The other 9 were likely shipped to Canada or Japan for assembly after 1977. As your banjo bears no C.F. The original prototype was designed and built by the Vega Company in 1969, for the legendary King of the Banjo Eddie Peabody to commemorate his 50th year in show business. After a loooong wait I finally got it in 1971 . The Eddie Peabody Model was actually made by Vega of Boston from 1966-ca. Vega Pete Seeger Model Longneck Model 5 String Banjo (1961), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 100971, shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case. C.F. Barry. Vega Martin long neck PS-5 banjo SN 80 is one of eleven Pete Seeger 5-stringers manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1972 per Shop Order 2098. In the Vega Martin price list of 1971, the last publication in which VM retail prices were cited, the VM-5 was listed at $345 without case. Good luck, thanks much for your post, and great to hear from you again, Barry. Anders- Thanks for your query. In a 1971 price list, the FW-5 sold for $345. The shoes (instead of Vox next nut shoes) and the round hook and nutassemblies are probably from stock, as I have some still lying around athome that I bought from Martin back then to replace on a 1929 Vegaphone(which are slightly different). I bought it in Stockholm, Sweden as a student, so it was not so expensive, as i remembered. He uses the one piece neck design typical of the other Deering models with the SN stamped on the back of the peghead. Let me know if you might have any questionsI really appreciate the work youre doing here. Just found you today . ANTIQUE S.S. STEWART UNIVERSAL FAVORITE BANJO with INTERESTING HISTORY C $146.35 The PS-5 appears in the transitional 1970 Vega Martin catalog, and again in the 1972 product brochure; but it is absent from the 1976 catalog. From the BRC, Barry. The top-of-the-line model that Martin-Vega offered during the 1970s was the special order Ultra Vox V. At the end of the production run in 1979, the MSRP list price in the catalog was $3600 (exactly the same as the Martin D-45 guitar). No M130097 Model: Wonder 5 St. It is number E-5 in a limited edition of 16 instruments made in 1976. so it does say Martin on the back and its vega on the front. So cool to have this historical data. If you had a picture archive, Id be happy to post some pictures. From the BRC, Barry, Sir: What kind of info can you give me on a V-76E banjo, Ser. I also did replace all of the cheapish plastic knobs with ivoroid ones of much better quality. Original MRSP $1310 without case (carved neck was also extra). In the final Martin price listed published in 1971, it listed for $345 without case. Retail price was $1300.00 ; I paid $900.00 . Vega Pete Seeger 5-string Folk Banjo - 1958-1970 - The Canada Site Thanks for your post and happy pickin`, Barry. Martin workshop logbook, open back Tu-Ba-Phone 5-string banjo SN 1707 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1976. The tone ring is stamped 24, and the tail piece is stamped 41. By my count, Martin made 16 V-45 banjos that were 5-stringers, 3 plectrums (V45-P), and one (V45-T) tenor model. The PS-5 is not seen in the 1976 Vega Martin catalog but is replaced by the No. When C.F. Vega Martin Banjo Info | Banjo Rehab Center, Banjo Restoration In May of 1970, C.F. Just wondering if you have any interesting data on this ax. vega banjo identification. Would appreciate any information you can provide to verify the model and any original cost/current value. Look for decals and a serial number on the interior of the rim to help document its story. For example: 0534599-7362 would be a banjo from May of 1999. Martin in Nazareth, PA. The Martin Co. dropped the 6 digit serial number system in mid 1971 and then began again with #2- #1945, although a few special banjos up to #1969 were produced. 10" Rim. It was one of the last batch of fourteen Wonder 5-stringers made in the USA before C.F. C.F. Ernie- It would be helpful if you could send a photo of your yellow sticker, as I suspect that your Vega Vox IV was manufactured in Boston in 1964 after Vega reconverted to a six digit serial number during the pre- C.F. Reply from our BRC consultant and Vega Vox scholarDr. Ron: The Vega Vox IV was the top of the line banjo in the Vox (deep resonator) line for Vega Co. of Boston in the 1950sthe serial number is consistent with a 1951 model. Ive owned one for 30 yrs though I dont play it very well. 1519. It was advertised to feature a rosewood veneered rim and resonator trimmed in abalone pearl like the C.F. One thing that I have noticed is that Massachusetts-made resonator banjos generally had a yellow/orange stain. 22 frets. Like my dad, I am a musician and physician and treasure his professional and avocational memorabilia. By early 1971, Martin began to assemble banjos from Boston-made parts in Nazareth using the Vega six digit serial number system prefixed with the letter M for Martin and beginning with Shop Order 2001. Some C.F. Martin built 561 VW-5 banjos in the 1970`s.You can learn more about this VM instrument by browsing my website for the postings on 6-19-21 and 1-16-21, or just enter the word `wonder` in the search engine. Vega Long Neck Banjo $5,399.00 Vega White Oak Long Neck Banjo 11" from $2,599.00 Vega Kingston Trio Tom Dooley Long Neck Banjo $15,599.00 Vega Woodsongs Campfire Long Neck Banjo $2,399.00 Sold Out Vega Professional 19-Fret Tenor Banjo $7,499.00 Vega Kingston Trio Long Neck Banjo $6,299.00 Vega Kingston Trio - Bob Shane Plectrum Banjo Thought you might enjoy an article in All Frets from my good friend and American Banjo Museum curator, Johnny Baier, An Ode to the Vega VoxId like to think my bad influences have moved him over to the dark side as he is now a happy owner of his own deep resonator tenor with a calfskin head (it sounds fantastic). They made both tenor/plectrum and five-string models. Identification: "A" Style mandolins were symmetrical and shaped like a teardrop. Accordingly, 1970-1971 was a year of manufacturing transition from Boston to Nazareth. Where is the serial number on a Vega banjo? P.S. It is mentioned again on a back page of the 1972 catalogue. The Folk Wonder model does not appear in the 1972 or 1976 Vega Martin catalogues, but its resonator version the `Wonder` model does. The earliest reported is F&C #1000. Martin markings, my impression is that it was put together overseas from left-over Martin parts after the Asian conglomerate Galaxy Trading purchased the Vega brand in 1979. Again, thanks for your post. How do you date a banjo? Serial # 1795. Thanks for letting us see this fascinating and unique instrument. Just found this wonderful site. As C.F. Learning how to play the banjo is no different. In recent years, Deeringrecreated andmarkets its ownVega Professional 4-stringer model with a classic wooden pie sectioned resonator. Martin- Thank you for your query and very useful photos. GoldTone longneck Banjo - musical instruments - by owner - sale Fender Standard Banjo Hardshell Case Black chuya Hello. Posts. The Vega brand was subsequently sold overseas in 1979. It retailed for $775 and was probably assembled from parts left over from Nazareth, PA. A sticker inside says The Vega Co. Boston 15, MASS, Patended USA The serial number is A-125394. By my count, twelve VV IV-tenor banjos were built in Nazareth with the last one, #1678, in 1976. What a wealth of banjo information you have.I have a VV IV T tenor SN: M130298 which I purchase used about twenty-five years ago for $2,000. The Item # was VT2NRC. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Bill's Banjos Reverb Homepage Contact Support 539673d7daac40d5a6fd870a259b9813 Shop Gear Categories Brands Shops Deals and Steals Price Drops 0% Financing New and Popular Handpicked Collections Sell on Reverb The six digit Boston serial numbers were replaced by the Martin SN`s beginning with #2 in 1972. I inherited a Vega 5-string resonator banjo and have been trying to find out additional information about it. Thanks! Martin was winding-down its banjo production, the metal engraving was subcontracted to Liberty Banjos. Data from these logbooks are available per e-mail request from the BRC founder. Per my files, the Pete Seeger long neck first appears in a Vega flyer in 1961 for $309. It is a beauty. One of the 2 rods inside rim is a larger diameter then the other one. The serial # is 448. Hope this helps, and thanks again for your post. Thank you. Remo Frosted Top Banjo Head, 11 Inch Diameter, High Crown (1/2 Inch) $19 USD. Location. Vintage Banjos for sale | eBay Not a fancy top-line model, but still built with the typical extremely high quality components and a simple but . My guess is that most of the left-over parts from near your home in Massachusettes were used up over the next ensuing 7 years of production, but there is an outside chance that a few spare parts like an occasional tonering survived and were transferred to Galaxy when it purchased Vega in 1979. Martin & Co. Organisation, NEEDHAM, MASS. Kay Musical Instrument Company - Wikipedia Martin did not develop or cultivate such a banjo line, a dozen such BJF-5 entries are recorded in their shop files from 1971-1972. Buckbee(1861-1897) banjos can frequently be identified by their Banjos with pegheads like that shown in the first picture below are usually made by Buckbee. Its paper label says it was made by Vega of Boston, part of the CF Martin Co. but it does not have the CF Martin decal on the back of the peg-head. Per the 1971 Martin price list, the recommended retail price back then was $545 with out case which cost another $68 for the hard shell version. This Vox uses brass (rather than the late model Vega/Martin aluminum) hex nut shoes for the tension bolts, and thinner dual brass coordinator rods (again, instead of aluminum). Jack. Guess I stated it wrong, not really carvings, just in lays. Fairbanks and Vega banjo numbers are consecutive, and have no DIRECT relationship to the model, or production date. gamefowl breeders in texas; 0 comments. Thank you so very much for this information! From the BRC, Barry. The neck has crown-and-football inlays and the Martin logo is on the back of the pegboard. Only 101 model PS-5 banjos were made by C.F. The tiny screws adjacent to it are an adaptation by the Vega franchise to afford fine-tuning of the side-to-side alignment of the neck. While the Martin factory in Nazareth, PA, retooled to build banjos, interim yellow stickers were affixed to the inner rims of Boston banjos citing the merger and identifying the model of the instrument (which was inscribed by pen). Joshua- Send me some detailed photos of your banjo inside and out. Barry. This banjo was made by the Vega Company in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1922. This uniquestyle resonator was verypopular for many years, and it still hasvalue as a vintage part. It is the first martin-vega I have ever seen in person, or had in my hands! The new longneck was design to match the original neck in style and looks while also using some of Vega's Pete Seeger model as influence. safety tips; prohibited items; product recalls; A total of 101 PS-5 instruments were manufactured in Pennsylvania. All original except the tailpiece cracked at the bend not long after I got it, and I replaced it with the Stew-Mac version. So, the rim and rods appear be from a Vox I, and dogbone Tubaphone tonering would be typical of the 1970s period under Martin (some the later Voxesmade by Vega in Needham Heights before moving to Nazareth used these, aswell as slotted Tubaphones). The flanges, tension hoop, tailpiece and extended armrest are deeply and elaborately engraved, and were originally finished in a special hardened 24K gold electroplate. In the 1972 Martin catalogue, the Professional appears identical to yours, but it is absent from the 1976 catalogue. With hard case. The resonator back and sidewall colored engravings are probably the key feature that might bring more value than lessthere were two likely designs at this time a tiffany-style web pattern with a floral vine on the side (first used in 1930) or the late 1940s Indian blanket Art Deco design.I have an original 1948 model that has the older style neck, with the new resonator designso , its a mixed bag during this time as Vega was experimenting with parts off the shelf when banjo sales were extremely low (maybe 20 per year) and their focus was on guitar and ukulule production instead.Pricing for 4 strings (and 5 strings) have dropped considerably over last 2-3 years for vintage banjosVoxes have held more than others. Although mostly a collector`s item these days, the current price range of the V-76 is $2.3-5K. senior living sun prairie, wi; blueberry sweet rolls joanna gaines; miguel cardona family; shooting in newport beach last night; st albans swim club drowning; where was the 3 godfathers filmed; southwest chicken bake; Vega Kingston Trio Tom Dooley Long Neck Banjo, Vega Kingston Trio - Bob Shane Plectrum Banjo, Reutschi | Kruger Bell Bronze Tone Ring(Unplated). The Galaxy serial number is not a continuum of the Martin serial number sequence. 1969, probably initially at the 40 Leon Street factory the Needham Heights (just before the sale to Martin). Do you have any additional information you could share regarding this instrument? They all had yellow serial number stickers. All the best, Barry. The tone ring really had me confused! The last SN from Boston was probably #130049, and the Vega Martin logbook in Nazareth starts with SN 130248. Heres a link to a .zip file you can download. Bob- Thanks for the remembrance narrative about you and your Dad learning music together- your are a lucky father and son. I live near Portland, Oregon. Hello there, what a terrific Web page you guys have put together so interesting, i have a open back tenor banjo with the Martin logo and nos 916 it has the same pearl inlay as the 5 string pro it has 19 frets , i have no idea of its value but it has a beautiful slim neck just so easy to finger chords, cheers Rob. vega banjo identification - nutrir.cl Lastly, the banjo could be cleaned-up and refitted at a local music shop, or referred by the shop to a nearby luthier for repairs; and you would have a workable starter banjo for taking some exploratory music lessons. I do not know anything about banjos but the label inside the rim says VEGA of Boston. 1921 Vega Style L Whyte Laydie Mandolin Banjo. The openbacks are made entirely of white oak and feature a midnight maple fingerboard and peghead overlay. Can you identify this rare Vega Martin banjo just by the peghead markings? Your description of your FR-5 sounds like you have a genuine Boston-made Folk Ranger. Any idea where I might find one? The last two Vox Vs (serial numbers 1964-1965) were built in 1979, and still exist to this day. Martin purchased the Vega brand and briefly marketed the so-called Bobby Joe Fenster banjo which was a thinly disguised Pro-5 endorsed by a fictitious banjoist as a somewhat mirthful marketing ploy. The retail price for this banjo in the 1970 catalogue was $488 without case, and Martin did not published price lists after 1971. What A great and informative site .. C.F. Bill Keith Stainless Steel D-Tuners, for 2nd & 3rd strings. Aspiring players also wonder what makes one banjo better than another. I have a Vega V.I.P. VEGA Banjos for sale | eBay Any and all information you may have on my little banjo will be greatly appreciated! The highly ornate Vega Vox IV banjo with serial number #1969 was the final officially documented banjo manufactured by C. F. Martin in Nazareth, PA. , circa 1978-79. Martin decals on the inner rim and back of the peghead. I just acquired a second, SN#990 with the dog-bone tone ring. If you could give me your thought about what its worth, I would appreciate it. Since that day in 1989, Deering has breathed new life into the Vega name, blending over a century of tradition with Deering's banjo building expertise, to create a range of heritage rich open back and longneck banjos that are as integral to the modern folk sounds of The Avett Brothers as they were to Pete Seegers personal revolution. Can you tell me about it? The C.F. The rhinestones on the flanges, tension bolts, and peghead differ from Peabodys prototype and the later Martin production Vox V models. Martin upgraded the maple rim to 10 ply after purchasing the Vega/Boston franchise in May of 1970. Although a mystery to me, this top of the line resonator banjo was introduced by C.F. Banjoman- C.F. On the inner rim of the back cover is another Martin logo and the (embossed in white) number 887. Vega Martin models (1970-1979) are less of a collector`s item and fetch about half that price range. 6. The number will be 6-12 digits long depending on what year it was made. Barry, Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. Your instrument is a tenor arch top 4-stringer made in the early 1980`s. Martin Company acquired the Vega rights from the Bostonian Nelson Family in May of 1970 and sold the franchise overseas in March of 1979. If someone could help her post it on eBay, it would probably get a decent price and a good home. In the Vega Martin shop files, banjo SN 916 is a VVI-P (Vega Vox Style 1 plectrum) resonator banjo made in 1974 in Nazareth, PA. Plectrum 4 stringers have 22 frets compared to the tenors that have 17 to 19 frets. But with original Whyte Laydie banjo rims being in demand for converting to 5-string instruments, this one is an ideal candidate. Both the VW-5 and FW-5 appear in the 1961 Vega ((155 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA) catalogue but featuring a 5 ply rim in the early design. The rich heritage of Vega was derelict for 5 years until Deering rescued it by acquiring rights to the brand name in 1989. Im the happy owner of a Vega-Martin VW-5 Wonder 5 string, serial #1516. It listed for $1310 in the 1971 VM price brochure and a carved heel was extra. Is it possible to tell me what model or style and year it was built also the value? The Vega Company manufactured of this era were assembled at the 40 Leon Street factory in Boston from 1961-1966, and subsequently at the 155 Reservoir Street facility outside Boston in suburban Needham Heights from 1966-1971(C. F. Martin acquired the company in May 1970 and continued some manufacturing/assembly there until moving fully to Martins factory in Nazareth, PA). The Vega Regent is one of the classic 5-string banjos of the Vega line. Martin manufactured only 33 VW-plectrum banjos. In the Martin SN files, banjo #1302252 manufactured in 1971 is designated as a BJF-5 (Pro) style instrument. However, current thinking (thanks to Hank Schwartz) is that 999 numbers were assigned per year -- from the start, in 1880. My personal suggestion, however, is to preserve it as a tangible keepsake of the priceless moments spent with your father years ago. Bob- Thanks for your query and kind words about my website. Martin Vega Banjo 5-Strings, Medium Gauge (V740) Check Price at Amazon. There are different types of banjos and plenty of new terminology for parts of banjos and playing styles. I own Martin Vega Wonder serial no. Your VW-5 resonator banjo is not to be confused with its cousin the open back FW-5 model Folk Wonder which retailed for $280. Categories . Martin students believe that it was a market ploy to attract owners of the legendary Martin D-45 guitar to purchase a partner banjo, but the strategy did not succeed. VEGA Vintage Banjos for sale | eBay Do you know anything of the type of banjo, year of manufacturing and value today? The construction features were changing on the Vox IV (most different from catalog images), but at this point Vega was still using dowel stick (rather than metal coordinator rods) to attach and adjust the neck, and adjustable truss rods in the neck were not added until 1955the early prewar type-construction was desired by many collectors. In regards to the endorsed banjo models cited in your final paragraph, my files show that the Sonny Osborne model appears only in the 1968 Vega/Boston catalogue. The Vega Company reportedlyintroduced the first wooden sectioned pie resonator in mid 1923 for their Vega Professional 4-stringer. Published by at 16 de junio de 2022. Martin built 55 VIP-T instruments between 1972-79. My estimate is that the banjo might be worth $500-$700 depending on condition. tone ring that you have. Photos are available. John, just an old Missouri banjo picker transplanted in Arizona. vega banjo Archives - Seeders Instruments Vega Banjos for Sale, New and Used - banjobarn.com Vega Banjo Serial Numbers - cleverapex I actually picked up a banjo that had a resonator that was sitting on the shelf in that 1970-72 period as Martin was transitioning and shutting down the factory there. and CXXVI (126?). The well preserved CFM decals on the rim and back of the peg head clearly document that the parts were made in Nazareth, PA, circa 1974. I have a Martin Vega Banjo, #324. Thanks you for this great site. Your T-2 instrument SN 1603 was one of five Tu-Ba-Phone 5 string banjos manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1976 shortly before the big luthier strike that compelled C. F. Martin to ship parts overseas for assembly. The serial numbers for the overseas-produced instruments were in the 2000+ range in sequence with the last official VM banjo manufactured in Nazareth, PA, which bore #1969. Fender Standard Banjo Hardshell Case Black ,, kemenpppa.go.id 4kjzing@8x47evey1 In those years there was not a college student who didn't dream of owning a Vega Pete . The banjo listed for $556 in the 1971 price list without case. I was told by someone at C. F. Martin that they only made 11 of them ( mine is ser # 7 ) . Martin built only 31 of the V-41 instruments: 28 of the V-41-5 model like yours, 1 plectrum and 2 tenor 4-stringers. vega banjo identification. Martin`s beloved historian). Cobra hooks first appear circa 1881 on Fairbanks & Cole banjos. Can`t find anything about it on line. Martin, but I do not detect such an identifying decal near the serial number on the interior of the rim. The tone ring holes are grouped in sets of three rather than equally spaced as on a tubaphone ring. vega banjo identification - pamelahudson.net vega banjo identification. Vega Banjos - Deering Banjo Company It is a top-of-the-line banjo that was paired with the reissued D-45 Martin guitar as a marketing strategy. Barry, Marc- Thanks much for the prompt and telling photos. C.F. Its mostly been in storage since I purchased it in the late 1970s. Also, Deering uses a 3-ply 1/2 rock maple rim, compared to the 5/8 10-ply rim typically found in most Martin Nazareth produced Voxes in the 1970s. There are some folklore stories why the Seeger banjo was discontinued. From the BRC, Barry. Martins acquisition of Vega of Bostonand, the only other one completed in the old Needham Heights factory before banjo production finally moved to Nazareth. ). I dont play any instrument right now. ! - Vintage Vega #2 Gp He wanted to buy it! It originally came with an arm rest, rotomatic tuning pegs, and a plastic head. Thanks again for your post. Ive attached a photo of that Coat of Arms resonator next to my Vox Vit was a spare they had made for Eddie Peabody. In your e-mail, you mention being told when acquiring the instrument that it was a prototype design. Barry, I have an open back Vega long neck with C F Martin Co logo on the back of the machine head and inside the rim. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Your Vega Martin instrument SN 231 is a Wonder model VW-P (plectrum ) 4 stringer made in Nazareth in late 1972 per Shop Order #2121 just after production was transferred from Boston to the re-tooled Pennsylvania factory. Martin decal on the back of your peghead and on the inner rim. vega banjo identification Subscribe to get free banjos tips, hear about new products, special offers, and more!