Vega Style 201 Flat Back, Bent Top Mandolin (1916)
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Vega Style 201 Model Flat Back, Bent Top Mandolin (1916), made in Boston, Mass., serial # 34381, natural varnish finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
The Boston-based Vega company's very well made, high quality mandolins are sadly obscure to most modern players. Along with Gibson and Lyon & Healy, Vega was one of the major players in the mandolin market of the 1900-1920s. Most of their design were either Italianate bowlbacks (early on) or the unique "Cylinder back" models they pioneered in the 1910s. This Model 201 is neither, but a conventional bent-top teardrop shaped instrument similar to those made by several different Chicago companies including Harmony and the Larson Brothers.
The Model 201 was Vega's budget "Lute" mandolin, listed with the fancier "Cylinder backs" but at the bottom of the professional line. It is plainly appointed and relatively simple to build but still beautifully made of high quality materials. The back, sides and neck are mahogany, the top is spruce and the fingerboard genuine ebony. The top is multi-bound and the soundhole trimmed with an ivoroid border and a half-herringbone strip. The tortoise shell pickguard is inlaid into the top and the Handel strip tuners and "clamshell" tailpiece are standard period fittings. This model was cataloged as a fully professional quality instrument by the standards of the day despite its fairly plain appearance. This is a very good sounding mandolin, a fine player with a daintier tone than the more familiar Gibsons but a surprisingly powerful sound nonetheless.
Overall length is 25 in. (63.5 cm.), 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 9/16 in. (4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 7/8 in. (352 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This is a nicely preserved instrument for being well over 100 years old, showing some light typical wear but all original and in fine playing condition. The top has a few dings and scratches and the very thin varnish has darkened over time. The back has some dings and scratches while the back of the neck is very clean. There are a couple of small tight grain splits to the mahogany back; no other repairs are evident. The neck is nicely straight with a slight typical kick-up over the body but not enough to affect playability. The original bar frets show very little wear. This is a neat period piece, a lovely example of this style of mandolin equipped with a modern HSC. Excellent - Condition.
The Boston-based Vega company's very well made, high quality mandolins are sadly obscure to most modern players. Along with Gibson and Lyon & Healy, Vega was one of the major players in the mandolin market of the 1900-1920s. Most of their design were either Italianate bowlbacks (early on) or the unique "Cylinder back" models they pioneered in the 1910s. This Model 201 is neither, but a conventional bent-top teardrop shaped instrument similar to those made by several different Chicago companies including Harmony and the Larson Brothers.
The Model 201 was Vega's budget "Lute" mandolin, listed with the fancier "Cylinder backs" but at the bottom of the professional line. It is plainly appointed and relatively simple to build but still beautifully made of high quality materials. The back, sides and neck are mahogany, the top is spruce and the fingerboard genuine ebony. The top is multi-bound and the soundhole trimmed with an ivoroid border and a half-herringbone strip. The tortoise shell pickguard is inlaid into the top and the Handel strip tuners and "clamshell" tailpiece are standard period fittings. This model was cataloged as a fully professional quality instrument by the standards of the day despite its fairly plain appearance. This is a very good sounding mandolin, a fine player with a daintier tone than the more familiar Gibsons but a surprisingly powerful sound nonetheless.
Overall length is 25 in. (63.5 cm.), 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 9/16 in. (4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 7/8 in. (352 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This is a nicely preserved instrument for being well over 100 years old, showing some light typical wear but all original and in fine playing condition. The top has a few dings and scratches and the very thin varnish has darkened over time. The back has some dings and scratches while the back of the neck is very clean. There are a couple of small tight grain splits to the mahogany back; no other repairs are evident. The neck is nicely straight with a slight typical kick-up over the body but not enough to affect playability. The original bar frets show very little wear. This is a neat period piece, a lovely example of this style of mandolin equipped with a modern HSC. Excellent - Condition.