VERY EARLY VEGA TU-BA-PHONE STYLE M TENOR BANJO IN AMAZING CONDITION FOR IS AGE. ALMOST COMPLETELY ORIGINAL. SERIAL NUMBER 31644 DATES IT TO 1915. THE SCALE IS 16 FRETS. THE HEAD IS THE LARGER 11.625" WITH 30 HOOKS. THIS BANJO WAS HEAVILY PLAYED FOR MANY YEARS, AND APPARENTLY WAS KEPT IN GOOD PLAYING CONDITION FOR ALL THAT TIME. THERE ARE SIGNS OF MINOR REPAIRS AND RESTORATIONS THAT, IN MY OPINION, HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT ON THE ORIGINALITY OR PLAYABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENTS. THE PHOTOS, TAKEN WITH FLASH ACCENTUATE EVERY FLAW. THE INSTRUMENT IS MUCH, MUCH BETTER IN PERSON. I WILL MENTION EVERY FLAW AND ISSUE I CAN FIND TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT.THE NEGATIVES:1. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF HOOKS AND SHOES THAT MAY NOT MATCH EXACTLY. THERE IS ONE REPLACEMENT TENSIONING NUT THAT IS OPEN ENDED INSTEAD OF THE BALL END TYPE. 2. THE RESONATOR LOOKS AS NEW INSIDE AND OUT, EXCEPT FOR SOME HEAT DAMAGE (PICTURED) ON THE OUTSIDE. THE FINISH IS BUBBLED AND THE SECTION IS WARPED AND COMING UP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A LAMINATED WOOD RESONATOR, AS THE INSIDE DOES NOT SHOW THE DAMAGE. IT DOES PRESS DOWN IN PLACE AND COULD BE REPAIRED AND THE AREA TOUCHED UP.3. THE TREBLE END OF THE 6th FRET IS A BIT MISSHAPEN. COULD EASILY BE STRAIGHTENED AND DRESSED.4. THE FINGER BOARD WAS WELL USED AND APPARENTLY HAS BEEN RESURFACED AND REFRETTED. THE PHOTOS SHOW THE WEAR UNDER THE RESURFACING. IN PERSON IT IS NOT NEARLY SO PRONOUNCED.5. THE BACK OF THE NECK SHOWS THE ORIGINAL FINISH WORN THROUGH. IT HAS BEEN PROFESSIONALLY REFINISHED OVER THE ORIGINAL, BUT THE WORN LOOK WAS RETAINED. 6. THE CASE MAY NOT BE THE EXACT CORRECT ONE. THE FABRIC AND PADDING IN THE ROUND PART WAS PUSHED DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. I PULLED IT UP, REGLUED WITH SOME VERY THIN FOAM AND RE-GLUED THE FABRIC. THE BANJO IS A VERY TIGHT SQUEEZE NOW. I WOULD REMOVE THE EDGE FABRIC AND PADDING AND GLUE IN SOME HEAVY FABRIC ONLY AND IT WOULD PROBABLY WORK. THE HANDLE SHOULD BE REPLACED. 7. WHEN I RECEIVED IT, THE BRIDGE HAD A PENNY UNDER EACH FOOT, WHICH MADE THE ACTION ABOUT RIGHT. A NEW BRIDGE IS THEREFORE CALLED FOR. THE POSITIVES:1. VERY EARLY FOR THIS BANJO. 98% (MY GUESS) ORIGINAL. THE HOOP AND THE DOWEL STICK HAVE MATCHING SERIAL NUMBERS. S/N# 31644.2. THERE IS VERY MINIMAL PITTING IN THE CHROME. 99% GOOD. 3. ORIGINAL TUNERS (INCLUDING THE ADJUSTOR NUTS ON THE TIPS).4. ALL HARDWARE (EXCEPT THE HOOKS/SHOES/NUTS MENTIONED ABOVE) IS ORIGINAL AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION).4. NECK IS STRAIGHT AND TRUE. 5. INLAYS ARE INTACT.6. LARGER (PROFESSIONAL) RIM (11.625) AND 30 HOOKS.7. VINTAGE SKIN HEAD IN GOOD CONDITION.8. HEAD HAS LOTS OF NAMES WHICH COULD BE RESEARCHED. PROBABLY MUSICAL PERSONNEL. **PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS AND REQUEST MORE PICTURES IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS WHATSOEVER. SHIPPING IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE, SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO BE SURE BEFOREHAND.