1920s Schmick Lyric (Vega) Banjo-Mandolin

I've had the chance to work on several old Schmick instruments and all have been Vega-made (Boston) in origin. This one has the "Lyric" rim which is pretty-much styled on the top-tension banjo rim designs common to British, French, German, and Italian instruments at the same time. Unlike those, however, the top-tension rim (which simply sits in the rim/resonator back via tension) is a little lighter in weight and snug to to the resonator's sides. It's a little more fashionable and it sounds a bit warmer and fuller, too.

Someone repaired a couple of back hairline cracks and swapped the tailpiece before I got to the instrument, but now that my work's done as well, it's playing spot-on, fast, and easy. It's also a little more practical because it has an adjustable-height bridge installed -- very useful because it's still got the original skin head which slacks/tightens more than a modern synthetic one as the seasons change.

The build is quality throughout and rugged and it has a good, warm, horse-clop sort-of tone to it. That's what I like to hear out of these!

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, fret reseating/adjustment, 1930s-era adjustable bridge installed, extra neck bolts installed (2 pictured in interior shot, 2 new ones also added), cleaning, and setup.

Rim wood: maple

Tonering: none/integral

Bridge: rosewood adjustable

Fretboard: ebonized -- has some repaired fine hairline cracks

Neck wood: maple

Action height at 12th fret: hair-under 1/16" overall
String gauges: 32w-9 GHS ultra-lights

Neck shape: medium V

Board radius: flat

Truss rod: none

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: low/small

Scale length: 13 3/4"

Nut width: 1 1/8"

Head diameter: 7 7/8"

Resonator diameter: 10 1/2"

Depth overall at rim: 2 1/2"

Weight: 4 lbs 14 oz

Condition notes: there are a few repaired hairline cracks on the back (not my work but sturdy). The finish shows wear and tear throughout but it's not bad. There's some small hairline cracks in the fretboard but they're no worry. The bridge, tailpiece, and nut are replacement but otherwise it appears original throughout. 

It comes with: an old chip case.