Deering Vega Vintage Star 5-String Banjo with Kavanjo Pickup and Hardshell Case

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This brand new 6 lb 0 oz Deering will ship insured, fully set up, and inspected from Rapid City, SD.

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Built for the banjo player who wants the character and warmth of a late-19th-century instrument without giving up the consistency and playability of modern construction, the Deering Vega Vintage Star brings those two worlds together in a distinctive American-made banjo. Its design looks back to an important period in banjo history, centering on a Dobson-style tone ring whose origins trace to Henry Dobson's 1881 patent. Deering combines that historic concept with a large 12" rim, Renaissance head, knotless tailpiece, and contemporary construction to create an instrument intended to capture an unmistakably old-time personality.

The Dobson tone ring is fundamental to the Vintage Star's voice. Its brass construction is designed to balance a substantial low end with clear highs while introducing enough sustain to give individual notes dimension without sacrificing the rhythmic definition old-time players depend on. A thinner-walled, three-ply violin-grade wood rim and 12" head contribute to the banjo's broad, open response, while the Deering Smile bridge and Knot-Less tailpiece complete a setup created specifically around a traditional old-time sound. That makes the Vintage Star particularly compelling for clawhammer, frailing, fiddle-and-banjo arrangements, folk, old-time ensembles, Americana, and solo playing where warmth, depth, and note character are as important as sheer volume.

Visually, the Vintage Star carries the same balance of vintage influence and modern refinement. Its smoky ebony fingerboard is decorated with exotic engraved hardwood inlays, while frosted bronze hypoallergenic hardware gives the metalwork an understated aged character and is complemented by a matched wooden Deering armrest. A Vega D-shaped neck, satin finish, planetary tuners, and geared fifth-string tuner provide the familiar functionality of a contemporary professional banjo without disrupting the instrument's deliberately traditional aesthetic.

This instrument also expands the Vintage Star's usefulness beyond purely acoustic settings with an installed Deering Kavanjo pickup system. The Kavanjo uses a magnetic humbucking pickup and output jack integrated with a customized Mylar head, allowing the banjo to be amplified without requiring an external preamp. Its purpose is straightforward: retain more of the banjo's tonal warmth, depth, and power while providing the output needed for amplified ensembles and larger performance environments. For a player moving between old-time acoustic sessions and the stage, the combination of the Vintage Star's Dobson-inspired acoustic character and the Kavanjo system creates an unusually versatile approach to a historically rooted five-string banjo. Available now at Haggerty’s Music, this banjo ships with a sturdy hardshell case.

Features / Specs

Highlights

• Instrument Type: 5-String Open-Back Banjo
• Series: Vega
• Model: Vintage Star
• Orientation: Right-Handed
• Electronics: Deering Kavanjo Pickup System
• Tone Ring: Dobson Tone Ring
• Scale Length: 26.25"
• Rim Diameter: 12"

Neck

• Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple
• Neck Shape: Vega D Shape
• Neck Stain: Dark Walnut-Stained Maple
• Neck Finish: Satin
• Fingerboard Material: Smoky Ebony
• Fingerboard Inlays: Exotic Engraved Hardwood
• Number of Frets: 22
• Fret Material: Nickel Silver
• Nut Material: Ebony
• Nut Width: 1.25"
• Scale Length: 26.25"

Pot Assembly

• Rim Material: Thinner 3-Ply Violin-Grade Maple
• Rim Diameter: 12"
• Tone Ring: Dobson Tone Ring
• Head: 12" Renaissance Low Crown / Customized for Kavanjo Pickup System
• Tension Hoop: Beveled Steel
• Hooks & Nuts: 24 Flat J-Hooks with 0.281" Hex Nuts
• Armrest: Matched Wooden Deering Armrest
• Hardware Finish: Frosted Bronze Hypoallergenic Finish
• Pot Finish: Hand-Finished Satin Polyurethane

Hardware

• Tuning Machines: Deering Planetary Tuners with Black Buttons
• 5th String Tuner: Deering Gotoh Geared 5th String Tuner
• Bridge: 0.625" Deering Smile Bridge
• Tailpiece: Deering Knot-Less Tailpiece
• Hardware Finish: Frosted Bronze Hypoallergenic Finish

Electronics

• Pickup System: Deering Kavanjo
• Pickup Type: Magnetic Humbucking Banjo Pickup
• Installation: Pickup and Output Jack Integrated with Customized Mylar Head
• Preamp Required: No

Miscellaneous

• Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
• Serial Number: VUS-KU-BH48
• Manufacture Date: 2026