Deering Banjos - online catalogue

Full range of Deering banjos available in the UK from Hillbillys Music Shop

		Celebrating 100 years of Vega Banjos 1904 - 2004
	The Vega Tub-ba-phone banjo is unquestionably one of the most unique banjos in the history of this young and growing instrument. Touted by some as the ultimate banjo tone, it is prized for its full, round and yet sparkling tone and for its depth, responsiveness and power. For years only affluent collectors could afford Tu-ba-phone banjos made early in the 20th century and anyone who wanted one would search and pay premium prices for these coveted instruments. Those days are gone. The new Vega No.2 Tub-ba-phone is the first of a new breed that offers all the dynamics, sparkle, power, depth, and full tone of traditional style banjos. The fit and finish of this instrument is second to none and is part of the continuing evolution of this legendary heritage. This is the new golden age of the great Vega tradition. The Vega No.2 neck is curly maple stained light amber and buffed to a high gloss. The dimensions of the neck are quite similar to the early Vegas: full and yet fast and comfortable. The ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard is hard, dense, colorful, exotic, and naturally beautiful and has the classic Vega mother-of-pearl inlays. The neck is fastened to the rim with two brass coordinator rods, which allow the banjoist to adjust the string and bridge height for optimum playability for any musical style or technique. The neck is also fitted with a two-way adjustable truss-rod to enhance playability and allow the individual to tune the action of the banjo to any taste. All metal parts are nickel plated. Whether you play ragtime, classical, bluegrass, old fiddle tunes, blues, jazz or compose your own music, the Vega No.2 offers a timeless classic reborn with traditional appearance, world renown craftsmanship, classic tone and built by the new masters of the banjo makers art. This banjo design has withstood the test of time and your new Vega No. 2 will be a coveted possession for your children, grandchildren and their children: a new legacy to continue a long, brilliant and stellar heritage. VEGA No.2
	The Vega Long Neck Banjo was first created for folk singers who wanted to be able to sing in keys that would have to be played up the fingerboard on a conventional banjo neck. The 25 fret Long Neck enables the player to play an E tuning in the open position: E,A,E,G#,B. This low tuned banjo not only sounds beautiful as a solo instrument, but it accompanies the voice with a deep, full and yet sparkling sound. When a capo is applied to the third fret, the banjo has a standard G tuning and the string length is then the same as any 22-fret five-string banjo. Artists like Pete Seeger and Dave Guard (of the Kingston Trio) were the first long neck banjo players and have inspired generations of banjoists to play the sweet and versatile long neck banjos. The Vega Long Neck is made with Deering's hand made, classic Tub-ba-phone tone-ring. The solid brass bracket band is hand fitted to the three-ply rim. This pot design gives the Vega Long Neck Banjo a round full tone that sustains with a pure and clear sparkle. The Long Neck has 25 frets in the hard, dense, colorful, exotic, and naturally beautiful ebony fin­gerboard. The neck is full yet fast in the Vega tradition and the geared fifth string peg is mounted near the 8th fret. The neck is made from curly maple, stained with a dark walnut stain and a high gloss fin­ish. It is fitted to the rim with two solid brass coordinator rods in the same way they were in the 50's and 60's. Whether you want to re-create the folk music of the 1960's or musically travel into unexplored banjo territory or simply have a superb instrument to accompany vocals, the Vega Long Neck banjo will provide the versatile, sweet, beautiful banjo voice that has inspired gener­ations of singers and players with its sparkling, deep and full sound; This banjo is one of the true classics of the 20th century and the new millennium. VEGA Long Neck
	VEGA Dragon Star		Continuing the Vega tradition of banjos that some players refer to as "playable sculpture" and created to meet the demands of today's vintage Vega fans, the peghead of the new Deering Vega Dragon Star is exquisitely inlayed in mother-of-pearl and abalone shell with a many scaled, fire-breathing dragon whose tail and claws are entwined around a bold Vega star. At the base of the scooped ebony finger­board is a delicate princess colorfully inlayed with hand-engraved detailing, featured on not only this lovely Vega Lady but also the accented stars that are used as position markers. There are bright sterling silver beams of light at the end of her hand-held staff that is pointed in the direction of the dragon on the peghead. Built around the classic Tub-ba-phone tone-ring by Deering, the tone is clean across the entire range giving the professional player a clean bass with a clear treble and everything in between. Though bearing the traditional trailing scoop favored by clawhammer players you can use this banjo for anything. It is richly dynamic, accurate all the way up the neck, with the full, complete range of tone that is chosen by discerning professionals and collectors of fine instruments. The no-knot tailpiece and fiberskyn head are standard features on this latest Deering Vega model and are in keeping with the tonal elements most desired by the traditional old time players.