Are Vega Senators still made? Those were mid-1960s models, and I thought had gone the way of the dodo. If someone offered me one of each make you mentioned, sound-unheard, I'd take the Deering without hesitation.

The Senator models I remember were pretty basic, a simple brass rod atop a 3-ply shell and nothing more, and were not distinguished as to sound, to my memory. Of course, these were 5-strings, and a guitar-banjo might be improved by the basic construction methods, but I'd probably still opt for the Deering, based on the last one of those I played (it was a Boston model guitar-banjo and if I had had the money, I'd have bought it right then).

I have a very basic GoldTone banjo-guitar now, and it "does," but not that well. I think I may see if I can't get a better sound out of it with some tweaks (like a new, thinner head, maybe).

As for recordings of banjo-guitar, google and see what you can find. I'll be more than a little surprised if you can find the Senator in any recording, though.

Of course, I could be wrong. I can be, you know. Why, once I thought I had made a mistake and I hadn't, so I am not perfect.

Bob