Vega Style X N0.9 Extended Fretboard

Vega Style X N0.9 with the fancier extended fretboard and short 21″ scale length. The 20 frets extend over the skin but the beauty of this banjo is there are only 15 frets to the edge of the resonator, so its easy to reach those high B’s.Beautiful tiger maple three piece neck with carved heel and ornate pearl inlay makers on ebony fretboard. Vega banjos probably had one the best pearl inlay designs of all the vintage banjo makers in the 1920’s. The headstock has the beautifully designed Vega Style X MOP which I think is one of the best headstock designs ever created. The MOP high details position markers continue from the first fret through to the extended fretboard. The tiger maple neck is usually only seen in expensive fiddles, but on this banjo neck it is really quite stunning. What makes this banjo even more appetizing is the ornate carved heel, complete with engraved MOP ebony heel cap. The rear of the head stock has ebony veneer with MOP flower, this extends down to a point near the beginning of the heel carving. The original friction peg tuners have been upgraded to quality gold plated ‘5 Star’ geared tuners. At some point in the life of this banjo the ‘Artist’ model gold plated flange and cad yellow resonator have been added to the banjo. Why didn’t Vega ever think of this before!! The maple rim supports a tubaphone tone ring which delivers a crisp, bright, long sustaining sound, with loud projection. The serial number 96589 indicates it was built around 1935. The nickel and gold plating throughout are in top condition, complete with a Tubaphone Artist Oettinger gold plated tail piece and Vega armrest. Comes with Canadian made solid hardshell case For Sale £1850