1920 Vega Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe Tenor Banjo

This is a very cool & all original Top Line 1920 Vega Tu-Ba-Phone 4 String Tenor Banjo, made in Boston, Mass., serial # 47287. This banjo is a truly beautiful example of pretty much the most desired of all openback 4-strings: the Fairbanks/Vega Tu-Ba-Phone. While not the absolute pinnacle of the Fairbanks/Vega line, it’s considered the standard by which any similar instrument is judged; this has been true for well over 100 years ! It produces a wonderful sound that few other banjos, new or old, can match. While many builders have emulated these original 100+ year old Fairbanks designs over the last 50+ years, only a few have come close to really matching them. It carries only the “Made by the Vega Company” dowel stamp as use of the older “Fairbanks” name ended in 1922. By any name this is an exceptionally beautiful banjo, a feast for the eyes as well as the ears ! The was the highest grade cataloged Vega 4-string, it’s a rare gold-plated Tu-Ba-Phone Deluxe. It features elaborate hand-engraved pearl inlay on the headstock, heel cap and bound fingerboard. The headstock face has an intricate scrolled pearl floral pattern while a “VEGA” logo design ornaments the headstock rear. The heel is elaborately carved in a floral pattern with a pearl-inlaid laminated ebony heelcap. These high-end Vega banjos retain the elaborate Art Nouveau look of the pre-WWI gilded age into the roaring ’20s. The heavy laminate maple rim is equipped with Fairbanks’ patented bracket band; the shoes are mounted to that, not drilled through the rim. The rim is capped with the “Tu-Ba-Phone” tone ring that is still a standard fitting today, 115 years since its invention. The bottom of the rim is bound with stunning colorful abolone on both edges with elaborate marquetry along the bottom. The tuners are early Grover Patent geared pegs with genuine pearl buttons. This is an original 1920s 4-string instrument with matching numbers on the dowel and rim; most Tu-Ba-Phones found today are converted into a 5-string. This banjo has the more player friendly geared tuners and remains a wonderful example of one of Fairbanks/Vega’s classic banjos with the full measure of that lovely Tu-Ba-Phone sound, the world standard to many old-time players. This is one instrument that instantly justifies its longstanding stellar reputation as one of the finest banjos ever made. This lovely old banjo has seen some use over the last 100 years or so but appears to have been well cared for through the decades, remaining a superlative instrument. The finish on the neck, rim and dowel is a very thin clear lacquer over shaded maple varnish; this appears original and typical of the era. The tailpiece is the original Gold Vega stamped unit from new which usually disappears over time]. The frets are original, and have probably been crowned down just a hair along the way. The inlaid pearl markers are in very nice condition w/the delicate engraving showing very little wear at all. This is so rare & so original in better than excellent overall condition & comes complete w/its original black tolex shaped hard case.