Name: Vega® Long Neck Banjo
Brand: Deering® Banjo Company
SKU: VLN
Price: 5399.0 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

$5,399.00

Please note that all our Upperline models are built to order when ordering directly through us. We recommend using the CHECK DEALER STOCK button below to find a Deering Dealer that should have this model in stock and ready to ship or contact us to discuss options.

Made In U.S.A.

Pete Seeger invented the long neck banjo when he decided to have a luthier cut his neck and insert 3 additional frets into the length of it. Instead of tuning the newly revised banjo in G, he was able to tune it to an E (Tuned E,B,E,G#,B) which allowed him to sing in that lower key. With 3 extra frets, this low tuned banjo not only sounds beautiful as a solo instrument, but it accompanies the voice with a deep, full and sparkling sound. 

Please note that all our Upperline models are built to order when ordering directly through us. We recommend using the CHECK DEALER STOCK button above to find a Deering Dealer that should have this model in stock and ready to ship or contact us to discuss options.

A classic Vega Long Neck banjo, created with the inclusion of a Vega tubaphone tone ring.

The solid brass bracket band is hand fitted to the violin grade three-ply rim. This pot design gives the Vega Long Neck Banjo a round full tone that sustains with a pure and clear sparkle.

Pete Seeger invented the long neck banjo when he decided to have a luthier cut his neck and insert 3 additional frets into the length of the banjo so that he could tune it lower to open E tuning.

Specs

Neck

Neck Wood: Quartersawn AA Grade Curly Maple
Neck Shape: Vega "D" Shape
Stain: Dark Walnut
Finish: High Gloss
Nut Material: Bone
Tuners: Deering Planetary Tuners
5th String Tuner: Deering Gotoh Geared 5th String Tuner
Frets: 25 Glued In Nickel Silver Frets
Fingerboard: AAA Grade Ebony
Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot Inlays

Specs

Pot

Rim: 3-Ply Violin Grade Maple
Rim Diameter: 11"
Tone Ring: Genuine Brass Tubaphone Vega Tone Ring
Head: 11" Top Frosted Medium Crown
Tension Hoop: Notched Brass Tension Hoop
Hooks & Nuts: 24 Round J-Hooks and 5/16″ Hex Nuts
Armrest: Deering Armrest
Hardware Plating: Nickel
Bridge: 5/8" Deering Smile Bridge
Tailpiece: Deering True Tone Tailpiece
Finish: Hand Finished Satin Polyurethane

Specs

Dimensions

Neck Width at the Nut: 1 1/4"
Scale Length Nut to Bridge: 32 7/64"
Rim Diameter: 11"
Overall Instrument Length: 43 1/2"
Weight Approx.: 8 lbs

Specs

Warranty

The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a lifetime warranty ensuring thequality of our materials and workmanship.

Click below for more information

Click Here

Specs

Strings, Tuning, Etc.

Comes strung with Deering Light Gauge Strings

Comes tuned: E, B, E, G#, B
Can easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

Comes with a hardshell case.
NB: Due to current supply constraints, case brand may vary.

Buy strings here

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4 Reviews

2 Questions \ 2 Answers

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Reviews (4)
Questions (2)

Updating Results

05/25/25

Skip N.

11/30/19

Perfection

What can I say? It's a work of art. Graceful long neck and a sturdy pot. It rings like a bell. Now, you may have noticed that I have reviewed several of the Deering Vega banjos and that's because I OWN several of them. I've had Ode's and Bishline's and several other brands of banjos over my more than 50 years of playing the 5-string banjo, both fo...Read More

r the fun of it and as a member of a very successful Old Time String Band. Deering Vegas are the best, from the top of the line to the bottom. They are just the best. Read Less

Roy C.

11/11/14

The Highwaymen's Best Weapon

Having been the banjo player with the 60s folk group, the Highwaymen, I have never played any banjo but my VEGA Pete Seeger long neck. I've owned it since 1958 and it sounds as good today as it did back in the 60s.

Fred C.

07/20/14

Long Neck 5-strung by Deering

As a Kingston Trio fan and member of a Folk Trio from the 60's, I was delighted to find that Deering was making the identical banjo. The sound is wonderful and the voice is distinctive. Five stars for this banjo! Our group is still singing after 49-years.

Howard D.

02/11/14

Pete Seeger Extra Long Neck Vega 5-string

I have been playing my Pete Seeger Vega Longneck since 1965.
Only the case shows the miles it has traveled!

Brian

10/22/14

Q: So, I just inherited a 1959 Vega "Pete Seeger" 5-string long neck banjo, it seems the banjo the current Vega long neck is modeled after. Wondering how closely the current Vega matches the original 1959 specification? Also, what bridge do you use on the current Vega long neck (brand, size, etc.), and is it available for purchase? The bridge on my '59 is warped, so maybe the current bridge you specify would be a suitable replacement for mine? Thank you for the information.