Fairbanks Vega Whyte Laydie No.2 Banjo, 1910 [USED]

Here we're looking at a Fairbanks Vega Whyte Laydie No. 2 banjo, built by Vega during 1910 in Boston. The No. 2 version was one of the plainer models, but still carries a lovely engraved mother of pearl inlay set. It is in good overall and playing condition. Fretwear is light to moderate, and there is some corresponding wear to the fingerboard. Most of the hardware is original, except for the 5th string tuner.

Following its original form as an A.C Fairbanks product, the Fairbanks Vega Whyte Laydie featured a natural finish on the maple neck and pot which provided its name. However, the real innovation was the Whyte Ladyie tone ring and bracket band, reducing the number of holes drilled and adding mass to the pot. Most of the banjo is Maple, with Ebony for the fingerboard, head plate, heel cap and the neck's center strip. The hardware has a nickel plate finish.

The A. C. Fairbanks company had been building banjos since 1890 - prior to that as Fairbanks and Cole - and were one of the premiere builders until March 4, 1904 when a devastating fire destroyed the factory. Consequently, the remains of the company were sold to Vega on March 21, for $925 plus $1 for rights to four patents. The Vega company continued building banjos, then guitars, into the early 1960's when its name was sold to the Martin Guitar Company. In the 70's, Martin sold the name to a Japanese company that soon folded. In 1989 the Deering Banjo Company bought the name and has been building a line of Vega banjos - but not the Whyte Laydie.

Sold with its original hard shell case.

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here

DETAILS: 

• Instrument Model:  Whyte Laydie No.2 
• Instrument Manufacturer:  Fairbanks
• Instrument year:  1910
• Instrument Finish:  Natural
• Instrument Class:  Vintage
• Instrument serial number:  26035, built during 1910 in Boston, MA
• Country of Origin: USA
• Instrument Condition: Good
• Left/Right-handed 
• CITIES Documentation Required:  No
• Case included:  Yes
• Case original:  Yes
• Case Type: Hard
• Instrument Weight Imperial:   6.996 lbs
• Instrument Weight Metric:   3.18 kgs
• Scale Length Imperial:    27.165 in
• Scale Length Metric:   690 mm
• Nut Width Imperial:   1.280 in
• Nut Width Metric:  32.52 mm
  
• Items in Case: N/A
• Consignment: Yes
• Product ID: 189315

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here