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Hunting
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CONVERSION:
Converted from a vintage Vega Style N tenor (SN 81473 on dowel & pot) to 5-string by adding walnut molding (wings) to both sides of neck, 1/4" fretted walnut fingerboard on top of existing fingerboard, 1/4 in deep brass-floored frailing scoop just below octave.
This is a short-scale banjo, since it uses the original tenor neck. Scale length = 21 3/8". Bridge height is about 1", due to the additional thickness of the added fingerboard. This seems to improve down-pressure on the bridge.
Vintage friction peg tuners, tenor med-gage strings (wound #3&4), calfskin head. 26 hooks, shoes & nuts, all of which appear to be original.
MOP inlay @ 5th fret. I installed a Stewart-MacDonald 5th string peg, threw away the new button, and fitted an old ivoroid button.
I didn't brand the dowel with my logo, wrote #038 in pen on dowel & pot, ink-stamped my logo - these can easily be removed.
DIMENSIONS:
Head dia. = 11"
String span @ nut=11/4 in
String span @ heel = 1 5/8 in.
SETUP:
* action @ scoop = 5/16 in.
* action @ octave = 3/16 in.
FLAWS:
Normal scuffing due to age.
A repaired hole on the 4th string side of the neck near the 3rd fret, see photo.
ON THE PLUS SIDE:
Good sound, good playability, overall in nice shape.
