The first banjo that I purchased (and still own) was a Vega Vegaphone Deluxe Plectrum, vintage late 1920's. I paid $150.00 of hard-earned paper route income for that banjo - it's now worth about $3000.
I also inherited my Uncle Wayne's 1920's-vintage Vega Artist Professional Tenor banjo. I don't play tenor much, but I love to pick that one up every once in awhile because it reminds me of my uncle.
Over the years I've owned several banjos that I barely remember. One was a Vega Whyte Laydie that I tortured by installing a pick-up in it. I don't recall what happened to that one.
One banjo that I wish I still had was a 1920's-vintage Vega Griffin 5-string. Being of the same vintage as my plectrum and tenor, it had similar inlays and a carved heal like the others. So I essentially had a matched set. But it developed a warp in the neck after moving to Colorado and I had a guy bugging me to buy it, so I finally sold it to him, warp and all, for $2000. There are times in your life when you make tough decisions to pay the bills.
When I was living in Seattle I came up with a screwy idea for a 7-string banjo. I wanted an instrument that could be played like a 4-string, 5-string, 6-string, and yes, even a 7-string banjo. I had my friend, Fat Jack Hansen, build one for me and I loved it. That banjo was stolen shortly after Jack finished it (later purchased in a Seattle pawn shop by Dick Weissman) so I begged Jack to build me another one.
After getting to know Greg Deering I approached him with a request to build me a more durable version and after several months of cajoling and waving money in his face he finally relented. He used one of his 12-string banjo necks to accommodate the width required for the 7th string. I use this banjo pretty much exclusively for my one-man-band gig and you can see it in my Bob O'Luney photo (http://bobhaworth.com/boboluney.html) and also in this photo taken in front of my humidified display case that I had in my home in Colorado. http://bobhaworth.com/photo5.html Click on the photo to read my interview with Jazz Banjo Magazine.
I currently own an Aria 5-string, the one that Josh disliked so much that he had to give me his Deering Vega Long-neck. I'm not as discerning as Josh is - the Aria plays well for me and even tho it does have a bright sound, it has served me well. But I'm really itching to get my hands on that Deering Vega #2. I'm hoping to have that shipped from the factory soon!
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