This is a vintage Vega VIP resonator 5-string banjo from the 1970s Nazareth, PA, era, when Vega was owned, assembled, and sold by C.F. Martin & Co. The serial number of 1327 makes a 1975 production date likely. This instrument has no Martin decals on the back of the headstock or the rim--whether they were removed, came off, or were never applied in the first place is unknown. Features Vega's Audiosonic (aka Tubaphone) tone ring and has great projection, despite weighing in at under 10 lbs. Curly maple resonator and neck, multi-ply maple rim.
Condition: low action, plays great, very little fret wear. Minor hardware tarnish and a few minor scuffs to the headstock, neck, and resonator, as you might expect for a fifty year old instrument, but no real damage worth noting. Neck binding discolored and cracked in places. Binding on the resonator discolored. At some point someone professionally installed strap buttons, which is probably a good thing, since the spacing of the shoe-and-plate pot assembly would make a traditional thicker banjo strap impossible to use.
I have upgraded the tuning pegs to Rickard 10:1 cyclone tuners--something I like on every banjo I play these days--though I'm including the original tuners as well. This banjo also features a new top-frosted head and a recent Purcell bridge (5/8", Crowe spacing).
Comes with the original brown/blue hard shell case; the exterior is a bit worn, but overall still quite serviceable.
