Wonderfully early Fred. Bacon FF Professional model with low serial number 84 and Hartford CT stamp made for Bacon by Vega as the world famous performer transitioned to manufacturing and marketing his own models of banjos. Of lightly stained maple, the internal resonator design has small wave cutouts on the back, serial number, maker, model, and Hartford stamps on the dowel stick; equipped with a front stamped No Knot, original hardware w/ reproduction wire armrest, grooved tension hoop, with 10.75 diameter; wear to wooden parts including surface scratching, and tarnish present on metal. The 26" scale three piece maple neck has a pearwood fingerboard, heel cap, and peghead overlay, with "medical torch" pearl inlay on the peghead, and standard engraved Vega inlays on the board; typical repaired vertical cracks on fingerboard and overlay, with some fill, and thin frets with mild wear; some small areas of binding replacement, with small cracking present on it, with surface wear on neck. A nice playing example with only light forward relief on neck; setup with friction tuners. Includes chipboard case