1921 Vega Style X No. 9 Tubaphone Tenor Banjo

When it snows it drifts Vegas, huh? This is the earlier of two Vega Style X tenors I just finished-up. Both sound and play almost identically, though the frosted-top of this one's head gives it a hair-more "mellow." This one's engraved inlay is also in a bit better shape and it only has a tiny amount of finish touch-up on the back of the neck at the headstock. 

These Tubaphone-equipped Vegas of the X #9 persuasion were sitting pretty at just below the top-end of the Vega catalog at the time. The only upgrade past this model was engraving to the rim hardware. Thus, at the time, this was a very expensive instrument and only professional players would've been using them for dance orchestras and whatnot. They're loud, poppy, project well, and have an overall sweet tonality with peaks in the upper-mids as you dig-in.

Work included: a fret level/dress, minor cleaning, and setup. The neck is straight and action is spot-on at 1/16" at the 12th fret, strung with 32w, 20w, 13, 9 gauges for CGDA standard tuning. The neck is sturdy so heavier gauges would not be an issue.

Scale length: 20 1/2"
Nut width: 1 1/8"
String spacing at nut: 15/16"
String spacing at bridge: 1 5/16"

Head diameter: 11 1/2" with older Remo frosted-top head

Side depth: 2 5/8"

Rim wood: ply maple with mahogany veneer
Neck wood: two-piece maple
Fretboard: ebony

Neck shape: flat board with medium-depth soft-V shape rear

Bridge: maple/ebony 5/8" Grover -- nicer, older 5/8" Grover in case

Nut: original bone

Tonering type: Tubaphone

Condition notes: repaired chip-out on back of headstock, minor overspray on back of headstock and "backstrapping" of neck area, frets are original but still have good height after level/dress, bridge is slightly-later (30s) replacement but in good order, head is replacement. Otherwise it's in very good shape overall.

It comes with: an original hard case in good order.

The pearl has yellowed original finish over it at the headstock. The pegs on this are spring-loaded friction units rather than geared, by the way.

The inlay has survived in great shape and looking nice and sharp. There's barely any wear to the fretboard or binding on the neck.

One inlay has the initials "J.C." -- who's that?! Ah, mysteries.

The hardware is all nickel-plated except for the tuners. The Kershner "Unique" tailpiece allows for adjustable downpressure so you can dial-in your tone and minor setup adjustments.

This banjo features superb heel carving.

I always liked Vega's use of tortoise binding on their rims.

Check out that heel cap! 

It looks like there may have been a retailer's plate on the dowel at some point.

The neck has some nice flamed figure in it.

The Grover spring-loaded friction pegs are gold-plated and have actual pearl buttons. Fancy!

Here's that original hard case and the old B&D string packets that were hiding in it.