1919 Fairbanks by Vega #3 Tu-Ba-Phone banjo 43405
1919 Fairbanks by Vega Tu-Ba-Phone #3 43405 original 5-string banjo. The old Vega catalog from the ‘teens proclaims: “Where there is a TuBaPhone banjo, there you will find musical happiness.” We couldn’t agree more! A terrific sounding and beautiful banjo with no cracks, breakage, warpage or other flaws that so often plague instruments that have endured over a century. For classical banjo, clawhammer, round-peak drop thumb or Charlie Poole finger style, this is by far my favorite choice. It is a banjo that not only has graceful lines and appointments, but the highly sought after Tu-Ba-Phone tone-ring really delivers the tone! Features include hard maple rim; mahogany neck with a beautifully carved heel; fingerboard with star and dot inlay; peg head with mother-of-pearl “Imperial Electric” torch; 28 brackets; nickel-plated hardware and, as is the case with all style 3 Fairbanks/Vega, the great sounding Tu-Ba-Phone tone ring. A 5-string nickel plated Kershner tailpiece of that period gives a crisp, clean sound, and it certainly looks at home here (whether or not it is original to this banjo, we cannot confirm most we have seen have the “No-knot” tailpiece). There are two very small screw holes in the dowel stick, perhaps for an electric light bulb to keep the head dry?
Otherwise, all original condition including tuners and Geib & Schafer “bump” case. For sale at $3950, includes free UPS shipping in the continental US and shared cost to many overseas destinations.
specifications:
1919 Fairbanks by Vega Tu-Ba-Phone #3 43405 (measurements in inches)
10 15/16 inch head
5-string Honduran mahogany neck with varnish finish;
Ebony fingerboard star and dot position markers;
scale: 27 inch
Grover tuners with ivoroid buttons;
“Imperial Electric Torch” engraved peghead inlay in pearl
Tu-Ba-phone tone ring
nickel plated hardware
notched stretcher band
bracket anchors in nickel plated band on rim
Vintage “Kershner Unique” 5-string tailpiece
nut width of fingerboard at nut: 1 3/16
width of fingerboard at 12th fret: 1 3/4
thickness of neck at 1st fret: 15/16
thickness of neck at 12th fret: 1 15/16
bridge height: 1/2 (modern Grover)
Finish original