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For Sale: The "Sonny Osborne" Vega 6-String from the Movie "Bluegrass Country Soul"

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To say the least, this banjo is a historical piece to the Sonny Osborne, Osborne Brothers fan and American music in general. The banjo started as a normal "Sonny Osborne" 5-string model Vega in 1968. Sonny was obviously a musical innovator in several areas and he collaborated with another innovator from Charlotte North Carolina C.E. Ward to create a 6-string Vega for Sonny. C.E Ward is very well known for creating and building banjos "outside the box". The original 5-String neck is with this banjo. This is the Prototype that appears prominently with Sonny in the 1971 movie "Bluegrass Country Soul" widely seen by music fans. The banjo was used on numerous recordings with the Osborne Bro's including "Listening To The Rain" , "Ruby", and others in June of 1970 and numerous recordings following. The banjo has the typical Vega configuration with the Whyte Laydie tone ring. Sonny had installed a "pickup" of sorts using a SM57 microphone capsule glued to the inside of the resonator along with a jack and volume control knob (both were installed in the sidewall of the reso). All electronics were removed years ago. Also 2 hasps were installed by Sonny through the sidewall and flange to attach small padlocks to prevent removal of the resonator (there's a story with that). Structurally the banjo is still 100% ready to go. This banjo has been on display in a couple museums and is now being offered to the public. The banjo is historically very significant to the history of Bluegrass Music, Sonny Osborne, and The Osborne Brothers. Here's a clip of Sonny playing this banjo in the movie: youtube.com/watch?v=ZtSNeANMDd4




Interested in buying this banjo?
to arrange purchase

Price: $15,000.00 USD

Shipping: Paid by buyer. UPS, USPS, Fed-Ex, International as well.

Posted By: Ceres Banjo Works

United States, TN,

Condition of Banjo:
Used - Excellent Condition

Type: 5-String Resonator

Brand: Vega

Ad Status: Active, #107840

Item viewed 819 times

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