WS16-8

Fairbanks (by Vega)                 Senator No. 1                                 5 String

 

S/N- 24243                             1907                            10 5/8 x 26"                 4 5/8 lb.

 

Original except a very short section of the treble binding was replaced.

 

Condition: Fine to Excellent. The peghead “ear” at the first tuner has been re-glued just a bit less than perfectly.

 

Background: The Senator model started very early in the Fairbanks era and apparently continued until the fire. Vega soon updated it and called it the Senator No. 1 in the 1904-08 catalog. Initially the inlays closely resembled those on lower grade Electrics. Eventually the peghead featured the Vega torch. For a brief period (apparently all during the 24,000 S/Ns) they decorated these with a superbly shaped and engraved dogwood-like 5-petal flower on the peghead and interesting board inlays. Only about 6 have been seen and most are either in rough condition or have been refinished. My Electric No. 0 (S/N- 24489) has the same basic inlay pattern but the flower’s shape and engraving are much cruder. Only 2 or 3 Electrics like this have been seen.

 

Features of this model: Mahogany neck with full spun pot. I think all of these had rim diameters of 10 3/4" or smaller.  S/Ns and inlays discussed above.  These models and some others of this period used an unusual combination of stains with the neck a cordovan color and the inside of the rims a much lighter brownish color.

 

About this instrument:

1) Lovely inlay pattern and engraving highlighted by a 5 petal flower in the peghead.

2) Interesting stain contrast between the neck and the rim interior.

3) A moderately rare version of the Senator No. 1.

 

Click to enlarge: