Vega also acquired the plectrum instrument division of Boston's Thompson & Odell Company, which made bowl-back mandolins, guitars, and several types of banjos. The emphasis remained true to Vega's origins, however, with about 60% of business centered on stringed instruments and 40% on brass. Aug 15, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Guitar Gallery. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest. 1940's Vega Lap Steel Guitar.
ARCHIVED TOPIC: identifying Vega / Martin banjo
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/243873
Bassora - Posted - 08/28/2012: 20:59:07
Trying to date our 'new' banjo. Vega is imprinted on the front of the headstock, Martin and Co. logo is stamped on back of headstock. There's a Martin decal on the insideof the rim that looks like the Martin that is stamped on headstock. On the rim is stamped the number: 242.
With this information does anyone have any idea when it might have been produced or who I might contact to get information?
Microsoft student encarta 2009.
Bassora
'out with the old, in with the older'
Bill Rogers - Posted - 08/28/2012: 22:40:48
Check the Vega dating at mugwumps.com
Omnisphere plugin download. beegee - Posted - 08/29/2012: 05:56:06
Contact C.F. Martin. They should have the Vega productions records for their ownership period.
mikehalloran - Posted - 08/29/2012: 19:09:39
242 by itself is meaningless. It was made by Vega and sold by Martin or made by Martin. In any case, it was sold between 1972 - 1979 but may have been made earlier. POST PICTURES! Please? There are many who can identify it if you do. Include pictures of any labels on the inside.
Jmiller71 - Posted - 11/27/2012: 11:26:21
I also have a martin Vega and Vega is imprinted on the front of the head stock, Martin and Co. logo is imprinted on back of head stock. Also a Martin decal on the inside of the rim that looks like the Martin on the head stock and under that, is the number 993. I sent an E-mail to Martin Co. asking the age of my banjo, Martin replied saying they had built 2000 Vegas with the Martin name prior to selling the banjo business and according to my serial number, the banjo was manufactured between 1975 and 1976. I hope this helps you.
mikehalloran - Posted - 11/27/2012: 22:32:34
Whoever sent that email is guessing. 993 is in the middle of the serial number list so '75 - '76 is as good a guess as any other. The Martin-Vega numbers give a clue as to when they were sold but will not tell you when they were made - or even by whom, Martin or Vega.
Post pictures including the label and inside the pot where the co-rods attach to the neck. There are a few of us who know these well enough to be able to tell you who made what.wrangler - Posted - 11/28/2012: 10:38:16
I have a Martin/Vega that I bought new in the spring of 1970. At the time, I didn't know that Vega was bought out by Martin. The banjo does not say Martin on the back side of the head stock. According to sources that I can find the serial beginning with M didn't come out until 1972 but serial number 130095 would have placed it in 1971. http://mugwumps.com/acf_date.html I bought this banjo brand new in 1970 and the store had to order it. Martin/Vega seems to be mysterious to me. It is a very good sounding banjo though.
Edited by - wrangler on 11/28/2012 10:40:04
rexhunt - Posted - 11/28/2012: 15:06:24
quote:
Originally posted by wrangler
I have a Martin/Vega that I bought new in the spring of 1970. At the time, I didn't know that Vega was bought out by Martin. The banjo does not say Martin on the back side of the head stock. According to sources that I can find the serial beginning with M didn't come out until 1972 but serial number 130095 would have placed it in 1971. http://mugwumps.com/acf_date.html I bought this banjo brand new in 1970 and the store had to order it. Martin/Vega seems to be mysterious to me. It is a very good sounding banjo though.
I believe any Vega with a yellow label like this was made by Vega in Needham MA. If it said Martin on the label, it was after the buyout but before manufacture moved to Nazareth. The one in the picture is a Bobby Joe Fenster model which was exactly the same as the Pro II but renamed by Martin. I've got one from 69 without Martin on the label.
Rex
Guitar Serial Numbers Check
mikehalloran - Posted - 11/28/2012: 18:29:25
Among the 2000+ Vega banjos that Martin made and / or sold were about 250 or more completed banjos including all 100 of the Bobby Joe Fenster model named after a comic character created by Eugene Levy - otherwise, it's the VIP II. Are you sure of that 1970 date when you purchased it? That would be 2 years before Martin purchased Vega. Many of the Vega made, Martin sold banjos do have earlier serial numbers from 1969 - 71 and the Boston label.
wrangler - Posted - 11/29/2012: 06:28:35
Sketchup pro 2018 serial number and code. I graduated from under grad Kent State in June of 1971. During the winter quarter before my graduation, I did student teaching. I played the Vega at a school assembly and have a picture someone took. That would have been Jan. or Feb. of 1971. I rembrer buying the banjo in the spring just before my senior year. That would have been about May of 1970.
Vega also acquired the plectrum instrument division of Boston's Thompson & Odell Company, which made bowl-back mandolins, guitars, and several types of banjos. The emphasis remained true to Vega's origins, however, with about 60% of business centered on stringed instruments and 40% on brass. Aug 15, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Guitar Gallery. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest. 1940's Vega Lap Steel Guitar.
ARCHIVED TOPIC: identifying Vega / Martin banjo
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/243873
Bassora - Posted - 08/28/2012: 20:59:07
Trying to date our 'new' banjo. Vega is imprinted on the front of the headstock, Martin and Co. logo is stamped on back of headstock. There's a Martin decal on the insideof the rim that looks like the Martin that is stamped on headstock. On the rim is stamped the number: 242.
With this information does anyone have any idea when it might have been produced or who I might contact to get information?
Microsoft student encarta 2009.
Bassora
'out with the old, in with the older'
Bill Rogers - Posted - 08/28/2012: 22:40:48
Check the Vega dating at mugwumps.com
Omnisphere plugin download. beegee - Posted - 08/29/2012: 05:56:06
Contact C.F. Martin. They should have the Vega productions records for their ownership period.
mikehalloran - Posted - 08/29/2012: 19:09:39
242 by itself is meaningless. It was made by Vega and sold by Martin or made by Martin. In any case, it was sold between 1972 - 1979 but may have been made earlier. POST PICTURES! Please? There are many who can identify it if you do. Include pictures of any labels on the inside.
Jmiller71 - Posted - 11/27/2012: 11:26:21
I also have a martin Vega and Vega is imprinted on the front of the head stock, Martin and Co. logo is imprinted on back of head stock. Also a Martin decal on the inside of the rim that looks like the Martin on the head stock and under that, is the number 993. I sent an E-mail to Martin Co. asking the age of my banjo, Martin replied saying they had built 2000 Vegas with the Martin name prior to selling the banjo business and according to my serial number, the banjo was manufactured between 1975 and 1976. I hope this helps you.
mikehalloran - Posted - 11/27/2012: 22:32:34
Whoever sent that email is guessing. 993 is in the middle of the serial number list so '75 - '76 is as good a guess as any other. The Martin-Vega numbers give a clue as to when they were sold but will not tell you when they were made - or even by whom, Martin or Vega.
Post pictures including the label and inside the pot where the co-rods attach to the neck. There are a few of us who know these well enough to be able to tell you who made what.wrangler - Posted - 11/28/2012: 10:38:16
I have a Martin/Vega that I bought new in the spring of 1970. At the time, I didn't know that Vega was bought out by Martin. The banjo does not say Martin on the back side of the head stock. According to sources that I can find the serial beginning with M didn't come out until 1972 but serial number 130095 would have placed it in 1971. http://mugwumps.com/acf_date.html I bought this banjo brand new in 1970 and the store had to order it. Martin/Vega seems to be mysterious to me. It is a very good sounding banjo though.
Edited by - wrangler on 11/28/2012 10:40:04
rexhunt - Posted - 11/28/2012: 15:06:24
quote:
Originally posted by wrangler
I have a Martin/Vega that I bought new in the spring of 1970. At the time, I didn't know that Vega was bought out by Martin. The banjo does not say Martin on the back side of the head stock. According to sources that I can find the serial beginning with M didn't come out until 1972 but serial number 130095 would have placed it in 1971. http://mugwumps.com/acf_date.html I bought this banjo brand new in 1970 and the store had to order it. Martin/Vega seems to be mysterious to me. It is a very good sounding banjo though.
I believe any Vega with a yellow label like this was made by Vega in Needham MA. If it said Martin on the label, it was after the buyout but before manufacture moved to Nazareth. The one in the picture is a Bobby Joe Fenster model which was exactly the same as the Pro II but renamed by Martin. I've got one from 69 without Martin on the label.
Rex
Guitar Serial Numbers Check
mikehalloran - Posted - 11/28/2012: 18:29:25
Among the 2000+ Vega banjos that Martin made and / or sold were about 250 or more completed banjos including all 100 of the Bobby Joe Fenster model named after a comic character created by Eugene Levy - otherwise, it's the VIP II. Are you sure of that 1970 date when you purchased it? That would be 2 years before Martin purchased Vega. Many of the Vega made, Martin sold banjos do have earlier serial numbers from 1969 - 71 and the Boston label.
wrangler - Posted - 11/29/2012: 06:28:35
Sketchup pro 2018 serial number and code. I graduated from under grad Kent State in June of 1971. During the winter quarter before my graduation, I did student teaching. I played the Vega at a school assembly and have a picture someone took. That would have been Jan. or Feb. of 1971. I rembrer buying the banjo in the spring just before my senior year. That would have been about May of 1970.
Jmiller71 - Posted - 12/05/2012: 12:41:46
quote: I'll try to load pictures you requested.
Originally posted by mikehalloran
Whoever sent that email is guessing. 993 is in the middle of the serial number list so '75 - '76 is as good a guess as any other. The Martin-Vega numbers give a clue as to when they were sold but will not tell you when they were made - or even by whom, Martin or Vega.
Post pictures including the label and inside the pot where the co-rods attach to the neck. There are a few of us who know these well enough to be able to tell you who made what.
Guitar Values By Serial Number
