1926 Vega Style X Tubaphone Resonator Tenor Banjo

This is a gorgeous, extremely-ornate, Vega that Tim worked-on for a customer of ours. It was in pretty good order throughout when it arrived except the neck had a terrible warp. Because of the inlay and fancy trim, we decided to refret it with big frets and then level and dress the warp out of the frets instead of trying to tinker with the neck itself. This is one way of solving issues and, fortunately, it worked nicely in the case of this banjo. It now plays essentially the same as a Vega with a straight neck and it looks amazing while doing it.

The real beauty is in all of the little features -- gold plating everywhere, engraved pearl inlay throughout, engraved pearloid veneer on the resonator's edges, a carved heel, engraved hardware, elegantly-bound headstock edges, intensely-figured maple throughout the neck and rim and resonator -- everything!

Its serial number dates it to '26 and it's a sort-of "transition" instrument between the older, shorter-neck tenor instruments and the full-on, jazz-kid, Vegaphone instruments of the late '20s and '30s.

Also, of note, is the Vega-branded, indivudally-adjustable tailpiece...! This thing is a riot.