Deering Vega 5-String Bluegrass Wonder Resonator Banjo

"BLUEGRASS WONDER" DEERING'S NEWEST VEGA

Crafted by Deering with a superb blend of today's technology and yesterday's classic tone, the Vega Bluegrass Wonder is a hard driving, sweet toned, medium weight banjo that is easy to play, adjust and maintain. Like it's versatile openback counterpart, the rock maple Bluegrass Wonder has a bright, punchy sound that is further enhanced by the addition of a double-bound maple resonator, making it ideal for banjo players of all levels. Modestly priced at $1049 and created with the same Deering low neck profile noted for comfort and an ease of playability the polished ebony fingerboard enhances fast fingering techniques like slides, etc The lighter weight of the Vega Bluegrass Wonder more than meets the demands of professional tone and the ease of adjustability of the single coordinator rod and truss rod to set the "action" make it a combination that is hard to beat!
The responsive Vega Bluegrass Wonder has nickel plated guitar style tuners, a geared fifth string tuner, a black peghead overlay with white Vega letters, mother of pearl dots on the ebony fingerboard, and a satin finish. The pot assembly is constructed with a premium quality 3-ply rock maple rim, nickel-plated hardware, strong brackets shoe construction, a 24-piece flange, a top frosted head, one piece armrest, and an adjustable tailpiece. All of these elements combine to make this a banjo that is bright, versatile, and able to respond to the demands of the hard-driving bluegrass player and other styles of banjo playing alike.
For more information email Deering Direct info@deeringbanjos.com
Or Folk of the Wood direct: info@folkofthewood.com

Features that set this one apart:

1. Genuine Ebony Fingerboard
2. 3-Ply Maple Rim
3. Flange is a Boston Style 24-Piece
4. Professional Tone with Lightweight

COMPARISON OF THE VEGA LITTLE WONDER AND THE GOODTIME

The Vega Little Wonder has a 3-ply rock maple rim while the Goodtime banjo has a multi ply rim. While both rims are quite sturdy, the Vega rim has a higher wood to glue ratio and this contributes to a fuller richer tone on the Vega. The Vega rim starts as 3 one-quarter inch strips that are bent and laminated together. The Goodtime rim is made from a combination of rock maple and birch. The inner and outer surface of the rim is rock maple and the middle layers are birch. Birch is very similar to maple but less expensive and enables Deering to make a strong, musically resonant rim on this low priced banjo. The Vega Little wonder has 24 bracket hooks whereas the Goodtime banjo has 16 brackets .The L shoes are more traditional and professional and more expensive to make, so naturally they are used on the Vega. Both banjos have a single coordinator rod running through the body, which can be used for neck adjustments. In general, the hardware on the Vega Little Wonder is heavier duty and in keeping with it's professional sound and feel. However, the Goodtime banjo's reputation is, "close to professional sound at a beginner's price."

The Vega Little Wonder has a one piece, rock maple neck, with ebony fingerboard and a two way adjustable truss rod. The Goodtime banjo has a rock maple neck made in three pieces and permanently bonded together. The frets of the Goodtime banjo are fitted directly into the rock maple neck. The Vega has a heavier, solid feel and the ebony fingerboard provides a smooth, fast surface for fingering. The Goodtime banjo has a slender, fast, comfortable neck profile that fits all hands, large and small. The Vega has a slightly fuller profile, which is traditionally desired on Vega banjos and is very fast and comfortable. The Goodtime banjo fingerboard has black plastic dots inlaid into the fingerboard and the Vega Little Wonder has mother of pearl dots inlaid into the ebony fingerboard. Both provide excellent contrast to the background for clear fret position marking.

Due to the materials and design differences of the Goodtime and Vega Little Wonder banjos, the sound, or voice of the banjos is very different. The Goodtime has a bright, light tone that is crisp and sweet. The Vega Little Wonder has a fuller, richer tone character with more punch. (Remember that this is a comparison of two open back banjos and they should not be compared to a banjo with a resonator. Resonator banjos automatically have more drive and punch than an open back. Please do not assume that more punch in a Vega Little Wonder puts it in the same category as a resonator banjo.) The weight of a Goodtime open back banjo is about 4 lbs and the Vega Little Wonder is about 5 1/2 lbs or so.