Plectrum banjo
Maker
Vega Company
Date1969 ca.
Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
ModelVegavox V
Serial No.A-129407
SignedEngraved into cream-colored celluloid on peghead face, in red text: VEGA (on top of gold-painted star with red and blue rays)Engraved into cream-colored celluloid trussrod cover: PEABODY [black text] / VEGA / VOX / V [bottom three lines of text in red with black outline]
Engraved onto left and right sides of armrest face: VEGA [inside five-pointed star]
Engraved at center of resonator back: EDDIE / PEABODY [painted brown] / VEGAVOX / V [painted blue]
Printed in black ink on bright yellow label on inside of treble side of rim: The VEGA Co. / Needham Heights, Mass. 02194 / PATENTED U.S.A.; NọA-129407 / Model PEABODY Vox V [underlined text in ballpoint pen]; TO REMOVE NECK, Loosen large nut and rod / nuts. Do not change small socket screws in / rim as these are set for proper strings action.
MarkingsEngraved into armrest face: Capt. Eddie Peabody USN
Stamped onto synth-skin head in black ink underneath tailpiece: REMO [inside four-pointed crown] / WEATHER KING / ___BANJO___ / MADE IN U.S.A.
DescriptionThis banjo, the fanciest in the Vegavox line, was a tribute to the long-standing relationship between Eddie Peabody and The Vega Company. Its metalwork is hand engraved and gold plated. The instrument was played by Peabody on the Sun City Scandals special produced by Johnny Carson in early 1970, which featured great American dancers, singers, and instrumentalists, all over the age of 60. It was the only time Peabody was recorded performing with his Vegavox V, likely because it was delivered in late 1969, less than a year before Peabody died.
Neck: maple with mahogany center stripe; decorative floral carving at heel, painted gold and brown
Peghead: maple with mahogany center stripe, integral with neck; cream-colored celluloid veneer on face; 20 red, white, and blue rhinestones set into face veneer; veneer decoratively engraved and painted gold, red, blue, orange, and yellow; cream-colored celluloid trussrod cover secured with three gold-plated screws, text and gold-painted floral engraving outlined in black; one white rhinestone set into cover
Fingerboard: ebony bound in ivory-celluloid with black-celluloid stripe below binding; 22 nickel-silver bar frets; decorative imitation mother-of-pearl plastic inlays behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 22nd frets; black-celluloid side dots inlaid behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 22nd frets
Heel cap: none - painted black
Head: synthetic skin with clear plastic covering [Weather King]
Tone ring: gold-plated steel
Rim: half-spun 10-ply maple plywood with gold-plated brass overlay
Bracket hooks: 24 gold-plated steel tension screws
Shoes: 24 gold-plated steel
Tension hoop: gold-plated steel, ornately engraved with stars and triangles
Armrest: chrome-plated brass
Resonator: ornately engraved gold-plated steel flange; 24 white rhinestones set onto flange, one at each tension screw; bird’s-eye maple back with cream-colored celluloid veneer on back and sides, front-facing edge painted black; 10 alternating red and white rhinestones set around side; decorative red-, brown-, green-, blue-, and gold-painted floral and gold-painted ribbon carvings around sides, all outlined in black; edges bound in black celluloid; 15 red and white rhinestones set into back [one red rhinestone is missing]; back engraved with gold-painted ribbons encircling red-, blue-, yellow-, orange-, and gold-painted decorative designs, encircling a gold five-pointed star with dark- and light-green floral engravings, a circle, and text engraved within
Dowel stick: two gold-plated brass rods
Nut: bone
Tuners: four gold-plated steel tuners with imitation mother-of-pearl plastic heads
Tailpiece: gold-plated steel, ornately engraved with stars and other geometric designs
Finish: clear lacquer
DimensionsTotal instrument length: 961 mm (37-27/32”)
Vibrating string length: 678.5 mm (26-23/32”)
Fingerboard length: 500 mm (19-11/16”)
Fingerboard width at nut: 32 mm (1-1/4”)
Fingerboard width at body: 45 mm (1-25/32”)
Head diameter: 275 mm (10-27/32”)
Resonator diameter: 349 mm (13-3/4”)
Rim and resonator depth: 79 mm (3-1/8”)
Resonator diameter: 349 mm (13-3/4″)
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 number14661
On View
On view
