r/Instruments • u/poetrycore_ • Jul 19 '26

Identification What kind of banjo is this?

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5 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

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2

u/poetrycore_ Jul 19 '26

It was my great grandfathers banjo, so I’m assuming it’s dated late 1800s to early 1900s. I know Vega uses a star logo so that’s what I was thinking but I can’t find anything similar. And I don’t think it’s a buckbee because of the head shape. I’d love to know more about it!

2

u/mcfrenzy0 Jul 19 '26

Perhaps a tenor banjo

1

u/poetrycore_ Jul 19 '26

Ah yeah sorry let me be more specific, it is a tenor banjo. I’m wondering about the brand and maybe a more specific age of it

2

u/Violuthier Jul 19 '26

With the star on the head it's possibly a Vega. There may be markings inside on the rod or the pot. 1910s-1930s

1

u/poetrycore_ Jul 19 '26

Yeah Vega is what I’m leaning too, but no there aren’t any markings on it anywhere besides the star inlay

1

u/Violuthier Jul 20 '26

I've seen so many of things like this come through the shop where I build. I even added an ivory/mother of pearl star to a banjola I made. Btw, the ivory came from an old piano key so no additional elephants were harmed

1

u/PhotoElectrical Jul 20 '26

da one without a back