1910 Vega-Fairbanks Tubaphone rim with "Bee and Thistle" neck by the late Bob Anderson
1910 Vega-Fairbanks Tubaphone rim with "Bee and Thistle" neck by the late Bob Anderson. Easily the fanciest bee- themed banjo in the shop. The Cocobolo neck has a 23 3/8" scale fingerboard festooned with inlays of honey bees, honey combs, thistles, and possibly the most elaborate bee hive ever inlayed on a banjo. The peghead overlay has a rather large thistle with bee on top presumably pollinating it, and the peghead's back strap is adorned with the rear view of that image. The neck also features extensive thistle themed heel carving that extends all the way up to the seventh fret, as well as Five Star Planetary tuners that have elegant amber knobs. The 10 3/4" rim's hardware is all gold plated minus the original Cook's Sure-Grip (AKA cammed No-Knot) tailpiece, and has the typical Vega blonde finish. Oh yeah and there are some more bees on the dowel stick. Overwhelmed? Yep, me too. But if you need a bee-lated gift for your favorite old-time banjo/apiary enthusiast, I humbly submit a suggestion. With TKL hard case, $4,500.