I picked up this Saga Bella Voce, circa 1979/1980, after it failed to sell on eBay and the owner decided not to re-list it. I think the Saga BV is an underrated banjo, which is why I was able to get a bargain. Based upon its fit and finish, I believe its value is at least twice what I paid. The usually savvy banjo buyers on eBay missed this one, probably because Saga's eponymous brand is viewed as entry-level. At the time I was only looking for one banjo; had I found this one before I bought the Woodsong I probably would not have looked further.
In early 2006 I sold this banjo to Paul Hawthorne. I had come across the Gold Star G12 that I eventually bought and I needed to offset some of the cost. Paul was interested in the BV; he offered me nearly twice what I paid but still well under its probable market value.
I was surprised when Paul's executrix called to tell me that Paul had willed the banjo to me.
For excellent information about the BV and other Saga models from the same era, visit Paul Hawthorne's site.
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