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Banjoline
Maker: Vega Company
Date: 1930 ca.
Place Made:Boston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
Model: cylinder back
Serial No: 38165
SignedPrinted on oval paper label the center with black background and white lettering: GUITARS·MANDOLINS·ZITHERS·BANDURRIAS / -·- VEGA -·- / [VCo. Logo] / THE VEGA CO. BOSTON, MASS.U.S.A.
Mother-of-pearl inlaid on head: Vega
Mother-of-pearl inlaid on head: Vega
MarkingsStamped into top of head: 381 65
Typed on paper label with cut corners: Patented June 10, 1930
Typed on paper label with cut corners: Patented June 10, 1930
DescriptionEddie Peabody created a new instrument, the banjoline, to mimic the sound of a plectrum banjo with a violin mute on the bridge.
This instrument appears in the film shorts Hula Heaven (1937) and Strum Fun (1943).
Stringing: eight steel strings
Soundboard: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain broadening toward the flanks
Back: one-piece mahogany with pressed longitudinal arching
Ribs: four-piece mahogany
Head: mahogany veneered with black-stained hardwood on face; integral with neck
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Heel cap: none; integral with back
Binding: ivoroid; trim on top comprised of five-ply alternating light and black hardwood strips
Fretboard: ebony; 30 nickel-silver frets under top two courses; 28 nickel-silver frets under third course; 27 nickel-silver frets under lowest course; ivoroid blocks with geometic and black-ink-filled engraving inlaid behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 22nd frets, the blocks behind the 1st, 3rd, and 10th frets angled
Nut: bone
Bridge: ebony
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass string holder with scalloped cover; attached with three nickel-plated steel domed, slot-head screws into lower rib and block
Tuners: six Grover patented planetary tuners with mechanisms enclosed in nickel-plated brass, with nickel-plated steel rollers and ivoroid heads
Rosette: oval soundhole bound with ivoroid; rosette comprised of light and black hardwood herringbone inlay surrounded on each side by red and black hardwood checkerboard inlay
Pick guard: black celluloid with nickel-plated brass mounting bracket; later philips’ head screws
Lacquer: dark brown with subtle sunburst; possibly later or oversprayed
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany
End block: mahogany with beveled edges
Top bracing: A-brace, each component with tapered ends, and two lateral braces, one each above soundholes and at bridge position
Back bracing: three lateral spruce braces with tapered ends
This instrument appears in the film shorts Hula Heaven (1937) and Strum Fun (1943).
Stringing: eight steel strings
Soundboard: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain broadening toward the flanks
Back: one-piece mahogany with pressed longitudinal arching
Ribs: four-piece mahogany
Head: mahogany veneered with black-stained hardwood on face; integral with neck
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Heel cap: none; integral with back
Binding: ivoroid; trim on top comprised of five-ply alternating light and black hardwood strips
Fretboard: ebony; 30 nickel-silver frets under top two courses; 28 nickel-silver frets under third course; 27 nickel-silver frets under lowest course; ivoroid blocks with geometic and black-ink-filled engraving inlaid behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 22nd frets, the blocks behind the 1st, 3rd, and 10th frets angled
Nut: bone
Bridge: ebony
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass string holder with scalloped cover; attached with three nickel-plated steel domed, slot-head screws into lower rib and block
Tuners: six Grover patented planetary tuners with mechanisms enclosed in nickel-plated brass, with nickel-plated steel rollers and ivoroid heads
Rosette: oval soundhole bound with ivoroid; rosette comprised of light and black hardwood herringbone inlay surrounded on each side by red and black hardwood checkerboard inlay
Pick guard: black celluloid with nickel-plated brass mounting bracket; later philips’ head screws
Lacquer: dark brown with subtle sunburst; possibly later or oversprayed
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany
End block: mahogany with beveled edges
Top bracing: A-brace, each component with tapered ends, and two lateral braces, one each above soundholes and at bridge position
Back bracing: three lateral spruce braces with tapered ends
DimensionsTotal banjoline length: 985 mm (38-25/32″)
Back length: 439 mm (17-9/32″)
Upper bout width: 170 mm (6-11/16″)
Center bout width: 167 mm (6-9/16″)
Lower bout width: 317 mm (12-1/2″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 76 mm (3″)
Rib height, at center bout: 64 mm (2-17/32″)
Rib height, at bottom: 92 mm (3-5/8″)
Head length: 148 mm (5-13/16″)
Head width, top: 68 mm (2-21/32″)
Head width, bottom: 56 mm (2-3/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 411 mm (16-3/16″)
Neck width, nut: 31 mm (1-7/32″)
Neck width, heel: 42 mm (1-21/32″)
Soundhole length: 117 mm (4-19/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 684 mm (26-15/16″)
Back length: 439 mm (17-9/32″)
Upper bout width: 170 mm (6-11/16″)
Center bout width: 167 mm (6-9/16″)
Lower bout width: 317 mm (12-1/2″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 76 mm (3″)
Rib height, at center bout: 64 mm (2-17/32″)
Rib height, at bottom: 92 mm (3-5/8″)
Head length: 148 mm (5-13/16″)
Head width, top: 68 mm (2-21/32″)
Head width, bottom: 56 mm (2-3/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 411 mm (16-3/16″)
Neck width, nut: 31 mm (1-7/32″)
Neck width, heel: 42 mm (1-21/32″)
Soundhole length: 117 mm (4-19/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 684 mm (26-15/16″)
Terms
Credit Line: Eddie Peabody Collection. Gift of George Peabody, 2012
Not on view
Published ReferencesAppears in the film short Hula Heaven, 1937
Anthony Lis, “The Peabody Instruments,” B. M. G. No. 868, Winter 2012, pp. 100-101.
Anthony Lis, “The Peabody Instruments,” B. M. G. No. 868, Winter 2012, pp. 100-101.
Object number: 14655