20's Vega Little Wonder Pot with Whyte Laydie tone ring and 5 string maple neck, conversion by Bart Reiter
This banjo can only be described as a bit of a mutt, but is a wonderful sounding and playing instrument, perfect for clawhammer or other oldtime styles. It has a 20's era 10 7/8" maple pot from a Little Wonder with all original hardware. Serial #84441 on both the rim and dowel rod. The tone ring has been converted to a Whyte Laydie. I don't know if it a vintage or modern WL ring, but it has some light rust and certainly looks old to me. Vintage Vega 5 star skin head. Bart Reiter is credited with this conversion, and he also made a very nice Vega style maple neck with ebony fingerboard. 26.5" scale. The neck is built to Bart's wonderful standard, and the entire conversion is very solid and professionally done.
This banjo plays wonderfully, and sounds beautiful. It has the Whyte Laydie top end, and also that great midrange that gives it such a distinctive prewar sound. This instrument has no structural issues of any kind, but does have some wear, a few dings in the neck about half way up, and some light rust and wear on the hardware. The skin head shows playing marks but is very solid. It all combines to give the banjo a wonderful vintage vibe, and I have not taken any steps to clean up the instrument because I love it the way it is.
Case is not included, but I have a new standard 11" TKL case that fits it almost perfectly, available for an extra $100.
There is a problem with the BH site right now and I can't get pictures to upload to this ad, so visit my web site for large images: www.chipbooth.com/forsale
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