c.1915 Vega-built Schmick "Lyric" Banjo Mandolin

What a rare bird!

William Schmick of Camden, New Jersey, was certainly taken with the English zither banjo (which this style of top-tension rim is based upon, but improved upon, too)... but he went a step better and got Vega to build his banjos for him. This banjo-mandolin is certainly worthy of the Vega factory -- it's very well-built, sturdy, and plays and sounds fantastic. The top-tension rim and soundholes on the resonator facing forward give it plenty of direct volume right out to the audience -- where you want it.

Restoration included general cleaning, teardown, setup, etc. as well as reinforcing some earlier back repairs. It's all-original, though I opted for a new rosewood bridge over the original maple/ebony banjo-style bridge, which was slightly too low and applied too much pressure in the center of the head (smaller base means more sink). The original bridge will of course go with it to its next owner.

This was a photo taken while I had it all apart -- this is inside the resonator. Apparently, a Kodak camera & music shop? Cool!

Amd here's Schmick's label and the 1914 patent date of his "invention."

Nice materials in this instrument: solid maple neck and resonator back, sides, and top. There's rosewood edging at the "soundwell" and a rosewood veneer on the headstock. The fretboard is a nice thick piece of ebony with MOP dots inlaid and nickel-silver frets and there's an ebony heelcap, too. There are side dots as well (which is super nice!) and a bone nut. Black celluloid binding on top and bottom of the rim, also. Overall? A really quality build.

Here you can see some buckle scratches, finish wear, and two long dryness cracks which have been filled.

Good quality tuners with bakelite buttons. Maple neck is laminated with a center strip of rosewood?

Side dots.

Yessir, she's a beaut, and like all Vega-built mandolins and banjo-mandolins -- sounds great and feels great in the hands, too!