Vega Guitars Serial Numbers

1. Serial Number Vegas 13
2. Vegas Pro Free Serial Number

A Fairbanks Banjo Project

This article is the result of years of research, accumulating data, and finally bringing it all together in one place. It has grown beyond the very narrow purposes of identifying certain changes in the Vega made banjo models, especially the Whyte Laydie and Tubaphone, to include when the name stamps changed. I haven't tried to match a date to the serial numbers, but that information -- although at best speculative and approximate -- is available elsewhere, including Mugwumps Online. For the collector/scholar, it is important just to know when changes occured. For the buyer, it is critical to know that an instrument being sold as 'all original' probably is. Some of the information here will help.

First, it is important to know a few facts. Virtually all the metal parts for nearly all the East coast banjo makers were supplied by one company -- Waverly Music Products of New York, NY, in business from before the turn of the century until the 1970s when they were acquired by Stewart-MacDonald of Athens, OH. I interviewed Waverly's then owner, a Mr. Lomb -- son and grandson of the founders, early in 1970 when he had put the company up for sale. He told me that Waverly, for whom he had worked since his pre-teens, had provided most of the metal parts and accessories to the banjo makers. In his workshop he showed me many patterns, cutters, tools, and dies used in making the nuts for Vega, Gibson, Bacon, Paramount and all the standard nuts we associate with the large makers. Waverly also made many, varied, stretcher bands, the simple brass hoops used for tone rings on the less expensive instruments, and some of the components that went into the more sophisticated tone rings. They also made the various shoes and hooks, from the Cobra hooks used on early Fairbanks to the modern flat and round hooks. Most of the tailpieces and many of the tuners also came from Waverly. That there were others making some hardware is indisputed, but Waverly made most of it. I don't know if they made the Whyte Laydie and Tubaphone assemblies or if some of the parts were made locally and then assembled at Vega -- the most likely scenario.

It is likely that Vega did not stamp the serial number on a rim until final assembly, just before it was ready to be shipped. Since the rims were assembled separately from the necks, and since Vega made & sold a variety of styles (5 string, tenor, guitar, mandolin, plectrum, etc.) it stands to reason that the serial number wasn't afixed until the neck and rim were mated. This would explain why some rims have hardware and specifications after the time when some parts were disountinued. It seems especially true for the earlier Vega #7's and #9's which clearly sold in smaller quantities, and the assembled rims might sit around for a while. It does not explain the apparent anomolies of name stamps appearing with serial numbers earlier than expected. Two possible explanations occur to me -- there may be others. First is simply a reporting error, but I have seen some personally, and been sent photos of others. The other possible explanation might be that the banjo was returned to the factory, given a new neck with new logo stamp, but numbered with the old serial number. Your thoughts on this and any other factor relevant to this study are welcomed.

1. Serial number search. Some documents containing personal data (e.g. Certificates) are only visible when you log in. Log in to myVEGA to see all documents relating to your instrument.
2. Fernandes created faithful recreations of Fender instruments; and Takamine and Suzuki both made acoustic guitars nearly identical to certain Martin models. Interestingly, most Japanese copies of the time didn't have serial numbers — a great way to tell if an instrument is truly a 'lawsuit' guitar, even today.

Be sure to visit the article Fairbanks & Vega Dating for more information about this project and a summary of my conclusions based on the instruments listed below.

Rolando: In 1916 to 1918 Martin made 261 guitar (numbered 1 to 261), and some later guitars with standard Martin serial numbers. Vega: Martin bought Vega Banjos in 1970 and moved production to their property in 1971. I have a vega guitar that I use a lot for gigs and at home there is no serial number on it and no model number, I hope someone can tell me when it was made. It is made from a light wood (neck, top, back and sides)with rosewood finger board mother of pearl inlays on the finger board and round the edge and hole. It was made in the Netherlands by CF martin Co. Hope someone can help. The slotted headstock is an interesting throwback to an earlier time, a feature that Vega abandoned in the 1930s. Assigning a date to the instrument is difficult; there are no catalogs to reference, and serial numbers on Vega guitars are so random as to be meaningless.

If you have information about:

1. Any Whyte Laydie banjo with serial number lower then 20343 or
2. Any Whyte Laydie banjo with serial number between 24939 and 24945, or
3. Any Tubaphone banjo with serial number lower than 25052, or
4. A WL#7 with number above, but close to 24956, but especially around 25000
5. Instruments with serial #s between 26019 and 26023, when the switch from Fairbanks plate to F-V stamp seems to have occurred.
6. Serial #s for WL or Regent models with left (reversed) facing Gryphons all seem to be in the 24000 serial numbers.
7. Any model F-V or Vega banjo with serial #s between 52669 and 52684 (a 15 number range), when the switch from 'Fairbanks Banjo, Made by Vega' stamp to the 'Made by Vega' stamp seems to have occurred.
8. Vega serial #s between 99369 and 99686, when the switch from the Vega stamp to printed yellow labels seems to have occured.
9. Serial numbers from the 'Made by Martin' era.

Please send any information directly to me. Mike Holmes. Thanks.

Welcome to the Reverb Price Guide, the ultimate resource for music gear pricing and information. These price ranges utilize a combination of expert research, external market data, and real-time Reverb transactions to estimate the current value of items in used but original condition.

Three Ways to Use the Price Guide

Serial Number Vegas 13

Vegas Pro Free Serial Number

A Fairbanks Banjo Project

This article is the result of years of research, accumulating data, and finally bringing it all together in one place. It has grown beyond the very narrow purposes of identifying certain changes in the Vega made banjo models, especially the Whyte Laydie and Tubaphone, to include when the name stamps changed. I haven't tried to match a date to the serial numbers, but that information -- although at best speculative and approximate -- is available elsewhere, including Mugwumps Online. For the collector/scholar, it is important just to know when changes occured. For the buyer, it is critical to know that an instrument being sold as 'all original' probably is. Some of the information here will help.

First, it is important to know a few facts. Virtually all the metal parts for nearly all the East coast banjo makers were supplied by one company -- Waverly Music Products of New York, NY, in business from before the turn of the century until the 1970s when they were acquired by Stewart-MacDonald of Athens, OH. I interviewed Waverly's then owner, a Mr. Lomb -- son and grandson of the founders, early in 1970 when he had put the company up for sale. He told me that Waverly, for whom he had worked since his pre-teens, had provided most of the metal parts and accessories to the banjo makers. In his workshop he showed me many patterns, cutters, tools, and dies used in making the nuts for Vega, Gibson, Bacon, Paramount and all the standard nuts we associate with the large makers. Waverly also made many, varied, stretcher bands, the simple brass hoops used for tone rings on the less expensive instruments, and some of the components that went into the more sophisticated tone rings. They also made the various shoes and hooks, from the Cobra hooks used on early Fairbanks to the modern flat and round hooks. Most of the tailpieces and many of the tuners also came from Waverly. That there were others making some hardware is indisputed, but Waverly made most of it. I don't know if they made the Whyte Laydie and Tubaphone assemblies or if some of the parts were made locally and then assembled at Vega -- the most likely scenario.

It is likely that Vega did not stamp the serial number on a rim until final assembly, just before it was ready to be shipped. Since the rims were assembled separately from the necks, and since Vega made & sold a variety of styles (5 string, tenor, guitar, mandolin, plectrum, etc.) it stands to reason that the serial number wasn't afixed until the neck and rim were mated. This would explain why some rims have hardware and specifications after the time when some parts were disountinued. It seems especially true for the earlier Vega #7's and #9's which clearly sold in smaller quantities, and the assembled rims might sit around for a while. It does not explain the apparent anomolies of name stamps appearing with serial numbers earlier than expected. Two possible explanations occur to me -- there may be others. First is simply a reporting error, but I have seen some personally, and been sent photos of others. The other possible explanation might be that the banjo was returned to the factory, given a new neck with new logo stamp, but numbered with the old serial number. Your thoughts on this and any other factor relevant to this study are welcomed.

1. Serial number search. Some documents containing personal data (e.g. Certificates) are only visible when you log in. Log in to myVEGA to see all documents relating to your instrument.
2. Fernandes created faithful recreations of Fender instruments; and Takamine and Suzuki both made acoustic guitars nearly identical to certain Martin models. Interestingly, most Japanese copies of the time didn't have serial numbers — a great way to tell if an instrument is truly a 'lawsuit' guitar, even today.

Be sure to visit the article Fairbanks & Vega Dating for more information about this project and a summary of my conclusions based on the instruments listed below.

Rolando: In 1916 to 1918 Martin made 261 guitar (numbered 1 to 261), and some later guitars with standard Martin serial numbers. Vega: Martin bought Vega Banjos in 1970 and moved production to their property in 1971. I have a vega guitar that I use a lot for gigs and at home there is no serial number on it and no model number, I hope someone can tell me when it was made. It is made from a light wood (neck, top, back and sides)with rosewood finger board mother of pearl inlays on the finger board and round the edge and hole. It was made in the Netherlands by CF martin Co. Hope someone can help. The slotted headstock is an interesting throwback to an earlier time, a feature that Vega abandoned in the 1930s. Assigning a date to the instrument is difficult; there are no catalogs to reference, and serial numbers on Vega guitars are so random as to be meaningless.

If you have information about:

1. Any Whyte Laydie banjo with serial number lower then 20343 or
2. Any Whyte Laydie banjo with serial number between 24939 and 24945, or
3. Any Tubaphone banjo with serial number lower than 25052, or
4. A WL#7 with number above, but close to 24956, but especially around 25000
5. Instruments with serial #s between 26019 and 26023, when the switch from Fairbanks plate to F-V stamp seems to have occurred.
6. Serial #s for WL or Regent models with left (reversed) facing Gryphons all seem to be in the 24000 serial numbers.
7. Any model F-V or Vega banjo with serial #s between 52669 and 52684 (a 15 number range), when the switch from 'Fairbanks Banjo, Made by Vega' stamp to the 'Made by Vega' stamp seems to have occurred.
8. Vega serial #s between 99369 and 99686, when the switch from the Vega stamp to printed yellow labels seems to have occured.
9. Serial numbers from the 'Made by Martin' era.

Please send any information directly to me. Mike Holmes. Thanks.

Welcome to the Reverb Price Guide, the ultimate resource for music gear pricing and information. These price ranges utilize a combination of expert research, external market data, and real-time Reverb transactions to estimate the current value of items in used but original condition.

Three Ways to Use the Price Guide

Serial Number Vegas 13

Vegas Pro Free Serial Number