About Me
Website Start Date - 1998
My name is Vincent ("Vinnie") Mondello
I have been working on stringed instruments for over 25 years, specializing in banjos.
My Grandfather Frank, My Great Uncle Victor, his son Eddie and my Father James "Buster" were all prominent banjo players from East Boston Massachusetts.
They played with many bands and orchestras throughout their lives.
They were close friends of Charles and Elmer Stromberg who had a shop at 40 Hanover St. in East Boston .
Circa 1910-15, Grandpa worked at Thompson-Odell, as a mold maker in the metal casting dept.
Here he met Charles Stromberg who was a supervisor and they struck up a friendship that lasted under Stromberg's death in 1955.
They also worked together at Fairbanks-Vega and at the Stromberg shop.
My Dad has played his entire life as a professional from the age of 9 and passed away on 1-27-2011 He met my Mom Jamie in WW2 as he was stationed in Texarkana Texas.
They stayed in Texas and my brother Greg was born here, and me, in Missouri, while they were on the road gigging all across Central and Eastern US,
I enjoy doing the restoration thing as there is many banjos out there that need attention so that they can get back into the mainstream of banjo players. I play a little, but I fix a lot!
I think that through the spirit of my Grandfather and in honor of my Father and my family's musical roots. I will earn my spot among them through bringing life to the instruments that have given myself and others so much joy over the years.
This page will continue to grow and link with all other 4 string tenor enthusiasts and I will do my best to help anyone with any problems that they might have.
Thank you to all of my long time supporters.
The Banjo Must Live On!!
Vinnie
My name is Vincent ("Vinnie") Mondello
I have been working on stringed instruments for over 25 years, specializing in banjos.
My Grandfather Frank, My Great Uncle Victor, his son Eddie and my Father James "Buster" were all prominent banjo players from East Boston Massachusetts.
They played with many bands and orchestras throughout their lives.
They were close friends of Charles and Elmer Stromberg who had a shop at 40 Hanover St. in East Boston .
Circa 1910-15, Grandpa worked at Thompson-Odell, as a mold maker in the metal casting dept.
Here he met Charles Stromberg who was a supervisor and they struck up a friendship that lasted under Stromberg's death in 1955.
They also worked together at Fairbanks-Vega and at the Stromberg shop.
My Dad has played his entire life as a professional from the age of 9 and passed away on 1-27-2011 He met my Mom Jamie in WW2 as he was stationed in Texarkana Texas.
They stayed in Texas and my brother Greg was born here, and me, in Missouri, while they were on the road gigging all across Central and Eastern US,
I enjoy doing the restoration thing as there is many banjos out there that need attention so that they can get back into the mainstream of banjo players. I play a little, but I fix a lot!
I think that through the spirit of my Grandfather and in honor of my Father and my family's musical roots. I will earn my spot among them through bringing life to the instruments that have given myself and others so much joy over the years.
This page will continue to grow and link with all other 4 string tenor enthusiasts and I will do my best to help anyone with any problems that they might have.
Thank you to all of my long time supporters.
The Banjo Must Live On!!
Vinnie