Plectrum banjo
Maker
Vega Company
Date1958 ca.
Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
ModelVegavox IV custom
Serial No.none
SignedPainted onto yellow celluloid veneer on peghead face, in red text with black outline: Eddie Peabody / [inside yellow 5-pointed star]: VEGAEngraved into plastic trussrod cover, colored in with black ink: IV
Engraved into armrest: [anchor with rope] Capt. Eddie Peabody USA [anchor with rope]
Stamped onto inside of resonator back in black ink: [5-pointed star with small, illegible text within] / THE VEGA CO / BOSTON, MASS. U.S.A.
MarkingsOn ivoroid back: MURUS ÆREUS CONSCIENTIA SANA
Written in pencil on inside of resonator back: C
Scratched into inside of back of resonator: MV
DescriptionThis banjo was assembled for Eddie Peabody's second son, George, when he was a teenager. It is mounted with an earlier Vega resonator from the 1920s or 1930s bearing the Peabody family crest. Peabody sometimes exchanged resonators between different instruments multiple times, leaving evidence of various mountings on the interiors.
Neck: maple with dark-brown sunburst finish; mahogany center stripe
Peghead: maple with dark-brown sunburst finish; integral with neck; center stripe continues up from neck; yellow celluloid veneer on face painted with a yellow shining star outlined in black, red text outlined in black, and decorative blue designs outlined in black; faded yellow plastic trussrod cover attached to face with 3 nickel-plated brass screws
Fingerboard: ebony with ivory-plastic binding; 22 nickel-silver T-frets; rectangular mother-of-pearl inlays with decorative engravings behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 22nd frets; black-celluloid side dots inlaid behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 22nd frets
Heel cap: black celluloid veneer
Head: synthetic skin covered with clear plastic
Tone ring: gold-plated steel
Rim: half-spun 8-ply maple with alternating grain orientation with gold-plated brass overlay
Bracket hooks: 24 gold-plated steel tension screws
Shoes: 24 gold-plated brass
Tension hoop: gold-plated brass with star-shaped and geometric engravings; E and P engraved on either side of neck
Armrest: chrome-plated brass
Resonator: earlier resonator, previously fitted for another instrument[s]; gold-plated brass with decorative engravings; 24 white rhinestones on flange, lining up with brackets; maple plywood, outer edge painted black; rim and back veneered in ivoroid; gold-sparkle strips around edges of rim; decorative carvings around rim stained blue, green, red, and orange, with gold paint detailing; George Peabody coat-of-arms carved into back, stained red, black, and orange, with gold detailing; circle with triangular and floral designs carved around coat-of-arms, stained black, green, and red with gold detailing; secured to rim with 3 gold-plated brass screws
Dowel stick: 2 gold-plated brass rods
Nut: ivory
Tuners: 4 gold-plated steel geared tuners with ivory-plastic heads
Tailpiece: gold-plated brass with decorative engravings
Finish: dark sunburst
DimensionsTotal instrument length: 968 mm (38-1/8”)
Vibrating string length: 686 mm (27”)
Fingerboard length: 502 mm (19-3/4”)
Fingerboard width at nut: 31 mm (1-7/32”)
Fingerboard width at body: 43 mm (1-11/16”)
Head diameter: 276 mm (10-7/8”)
Resonator diameter: 342 mm (13-15/32”)
Rim and resonator depth: 81 mm (3-3/16”)
Resonator diameter: 343 mm (13-7/16″)
Rim and resonator depth: 83 mm (3-1/4″)
Published ReferencesAnthony Lis, “The Peabody Instruments,” B. M. G. No. 868, Winter 2012, pp. 100-101.
Credit LineEddie Peabody Collection. Gift of George Peabody, 2012
Object number14660
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