Vega Short Scale 4 string banjo neck model?

[gregpost]

I believe this is off a Vega banjo. It is a 4 string, extended fretboard, short scale neck and I am trying to find the model it came from.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

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[rcc56]

Your links don't work . . .

[gregpost]

Weird, they were working before. I think it's a mandolin scale banjo neck. I will try to upload them again and post later.

[gregpost]

[rcc56]

That looks like Vega workmanship to me. If the scale length is between 13" and 14" and the heel is cut for a 10" to 11" diameter rim, it is a rather rare "melody banjo" neck.

The level of ornamentation would tend to indicate that your neck was made for a Tubaphone model, Whyte Laydie model, or at the very least for whatever Vega was calling the melody banjo equivalent of the Regent model. My semi-educated guess would be that it was for one of the Tubaphone models, but that is only a guess.

Ed Britt, Jim Bollman, or Bob Smakula would be the most likely people to be able to give you the most exact identification of the model possible. George Gruhn might also know.

The melody banjo was the equivalent of a 4 string mandolin banjo. They differed from ukulele banjos in that the uke banjos typically had smaller rims.

There is or was a fellow on Banjo Hangout who is looking for a Vega melody banjo neck.

[nmiller]

It's a Style X neck, a high-end model. That catalog page doesn't show the 4-string version, but Vega did make 4-string versions of their mandolin banjos, with the same headstock shape as yours.

[gregpost]

I appreciate the replies, thanks guys. I have many old banjo parts and I am trying to figure out if I have whole instruments in a dissembled state or just many parts. All of the stuff is old though, a lot of Vega stuff that's pre-war and older Weymann and Epiphone stuff, all American made.

[gregpost]

That looks like Vega workmanship to me. If the scale length is between 13" and 14" and the heel is cut for a 10" to 11" diameter rim, it is a rather rare "melody banjo" neck.

I measured from the nut to the 12 fret and it's 6.5".

[gregpost]

That looks like Vega workmanship to me. If the scale length is between 13" and 14" and the heel is cut for a 10" to 11" diameter rim, it is a rather rare "melody banjo" neck.

Around 6.5" I should say.

[rcc56]

That would be a 13" scale. If the heel is cut to fit a 10 or 11 inch diameter, it is a melody banjo or 4-string mandolin banjo, which is the same thing.

[mandroid]

glue holding the rim stick into it all gone?

FWIW, got a grover made 4:1 geared Uke (so smaller) tuner..

tried a melody banjo with steel strings and friction tuners and tuning it was maddening ..

I use the new tuners on my rebuilt uke-banjolin , with a spruce head , and it makes the tuning with non metal strings easier as well..

I have a little wonder Vega mandolin banjo .., simple solid rod tone ring..



that likely had a pot with a much fancier tone ring style as well..


[wish those old pages were in a format that could be enlarged to readable size ]

[David Kennedy]

Would you, by any chance, have a neck for a Vega Model "N" that you would like to sell? It is a 17 fret neck.

[gregpost]

I have Model M necks in various states. Some are missing sections of the neck binding or inlays, like so. These M necks are kinda rough, the Vegavox 1 is in nicer shape.




Here is an Epiphone Dynamic 3 model neck. I can not find anything about this model online, only a reference to an Epiphone Dynamic 2 model that nmiller posted about on Banjo Hangout.

It is pictured with the Vega mandolin neck from this thread and a Weymann Style 1 Orchestra.

[David Kennedy]

Thanks for the pics. I think I will just refurbish the neck I have. new fingerboard and frets. Thanks again.

[Anglocelt]

I have a Vega Whyte Laydie mandolin banjo with a warped neck and I was thinking of converting it to a melody banjo. Now, if you are thinking of selling that neck......

Kevin

[MarkELynch]

Because of my ragtime group I had been looking for a melody banjo for several years and Joseph very kindly agreed to send the neck my way. I thought you all might like to see the final result. Andy FitzGibbon at Bob Smakula’s Shop did a masterful job of reattaching the neck to a 10-15/16” number 9 Tubaphone pot. As expected this was an expensive proposition because In addition to the cost of the neck, planet tuners and case I needed to buy a complete Vega X9 tenor banjo. The results are worth it. In the collection I also have the 8-string version of the X as well so having the pair is a delight. Both have 10-15/16” pots with skin heads and similar engraved inlays on the fingerboard but the scale lengths are different. The 8-string model has a standard mandolin 13-7/8” scale whereas the 4-string model has a standard violin 13” scale. The 4-string model was intended (as the catalog states) for violin players to play melody or lead and the 8-string model was intended for mandolinists. The 8-string is louder but the 4-string model cuts through better. It is perfect for ragtime and a really cute instrument. Enjoy the photos and I welcome your questions.

Mark