This banjo, which bears the illustrious Whyte Laydie tone ring, has a generous head diameter of 11 7/8". This is the perfect head size for conversion to a Round Peak old time clawhammer banjo, and this is easily obtained by simply adding a 5-string replica neck. This example has the pie plate flat resonator with one screw at the center inside back; said resonator appears to have been oversprayed, inside and out, and it shows a few normal scratches. One of the four little rubber feet that buffers the resonator from the back of the banjo rim is missing some of its rubber (causing no problem).
The back of the neck is golden maple with a central laminated stripe for strength (and vigor) and a pearwood heel cap with walnut/maple purfling. The grained ivoroid bound fretboard is likewise bordered in a black line (the binding on the treble side was expertly replaced and color matched). The ebony fingerboard shows virtually no wear, the frets are round and level, and said board is inlaid with 6 pearl dotmarkers and a large star at the fifth, and a slightly smaller star on the pearwood headplate. Tuners are the original friction machines with grained ivoroid buttons. This is a 30-bracket banjo with a Kirschner Unique/Lyon & Healy, Pat. 12/29/14 and 5/9/16 nickel plated tailpiece that is 2 5/8” long.
The skin is old and handsome, and the bridge is correct to the period. The nut is bone, the original slim tubular armrest survives, and the rim is not drilled for nuts and lugs as it has the much-desired “bracket band.” The worn but original hard case is fitted with a replacement handle. The serial number on the rim matches the serial number on the square dowel, which is stamped with 2 Vegas-in-a-star, a “Fairbanks Banjo made by The Vega Company, Boston, Mass” stamp, “Style R,” and three more patents dated 1890, 1893 and 1909. The sides of the rim, which is largely intact except for missing its metal tensioner at the neck connection, and having creme color paint over the nickel plated guide at the tailpiece side of the rim, has tortoise shell celluloid trim on each side and an ebonized pearwood cap.
In the interests of full disclosure, the screw that holds the tailpiece to main lug seems replaced and there is no adjustment screw at the back of the Kirschner. The resonator may, itself be oversprayed but on the inside remain stamped two manufacturer’s logos. We have set-up this banjo nicely and it sings with the voice of the pure and purposeful. It’s best and highest use is as a conversion to 5-string and we are right now interviewing people on the street to see if any passing pedestrian might be a neck maker. So far, none have raised their hand. Remember, this is a comparatively rare 11 7/8” diameter head Fairbanks/Vega Whyte Laydie -- because of the wide diameter head it would make one fantastic conversion old time 5-string banjo.
THIS WAS $3087 WITH A CASH PRICE OF $2995 BUT IT IS NOW ON SALE (BIG TIME - A THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS):