1924 Vega Little Wonder "Big Rim" Tenor Banjo

Overview: Openback tenor banjos with larger-than-average rims were a popular thing in the early '20s before resonators coupled with a longer scale length became the standard way to fetch more productive volume and cut out of an instrument. This was the alternate route -- make the rim wider, keep the short scale, and hope that the larger head put out more volume. In this case, the wider head does give the instrument more power and fullness-of-sound than a typical Vega tenor banjo from the time.

Tone: It's clean, bright, poppy, and focused with emphasis in the upper-mids. It'll cut!

Feel: It's fairly typical for a Vega from the time -- a not-extreme V-shape to the neck and a rugged but elegant feel to the heft of the instrument.

Interesting features: For starters, the big rim is the main draw! Next-up is the use of Grover "2 tab" tuners which are geared inside.

Repairs included: It's had a fret level/dress, binding patching/replacement at the fretboard edges, new bridge, cleaning, and setup work. Previously, someone replaced the original head with a Remo frosted-top. It's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 5 lbs 12 oz
• Scale length: 21"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: flat
• Head diameter: 11 7/8"
• Depth overall at rim: 2 5/8"
• Rim wood: ply maple
• Tonering: Little Wonder (hoop in sleeve)
• Bridge: maple/ebony
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32w, 20w, 13, 9 for CGDA tuning
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: low/small

Condition notes: It's in good structural shape but definitely a "player's" instrument as there's a bit of missing rim-edge binding (see photo of tailpiece area) and the fretboard binding has many replacement sections added. There are small scuffs, nicks, scratches, etc. throughout the finish. It appears to be all-original save for the head, bridge, and possibly the tailpiece..

It comes with: It has an original hard case in good, but beat, order.

Consignor tag: TSA