Vega Director Model A-60 Tube Amplifier (1958)
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Vega Director Model A-60 Model Tube Amplifier (1958), made in Boston, Mass., two-tone fabric finish.
This is a wonderful example of the Director Model A-60, made by Vega just before their electric instrument line was largely abandoned due to the sudden folk-era demand for the company's banjos. Founded in 1881 and initially established as a guitar and mandolin maker, Vega became one of the biggest names in banjos in the early 20th century. Poised to be a major player in amplified guitars before WWII, Vega never quite seemed to recapture that momentum after the war. Still, the company's well-made and classy amplifiers could still be an alluring purchase to the aspiring guitarist of 1959!
Clad in a fairly sturdy two-tone leatherette covering with gold piping connecting the borders and art deco-inspired graphics on the control panel, the "Director" almost looks as if it hails from a decade or two earlier! Sporting a similar format to the ever-popular Fender Deluxe 5E3 with a slight tweak, the amp has two regular inputs plus a third 'micro'/microphone input, with a shared volume control for inputs 1 and 2 and a separate volume control for input 3, as well as one master tone control. The push-pull pair of 6V6 output tubes yield around 15 watts into a single 12" Jensen speaker. Although similar to a 5E3, the circuit very much has it's own oddities and quirks about it that set it apart. These were likely made for Vega by Lectrolab just out of Chicago, IL, as both the circuit and design shares similarities with the Harmony H204 and R500.
Height is 17 1/4 in. (43.8 cm.), 20 1/4 in. (51.4 cm.) width, and 9 in. (22.9 cm.) in depth at deepest point.
Cosmetically, this "Director" is in fabulously good shape considering it's a nearly 70-year-old amplifier! The two-tone leatherette covering is almost entirely absent of any notable wear and even the gold piping trim is nicely intact. Even the acrylic Vega logo is present and in one piece, save for a small crack near the top. The woven grille cloth is in equally nice condition; it's showing subtle markings from the speaker circumference but is otherwise free of any tears or signs of fraying. The control panel beautifully clean with all its stenciled lettering and art deco graphics nicely intact. The handle shows significant wear but still has life left in it!
Electrically, this little combo appears nicely original. The 12" Jensen P12R speaker bears the code 220-815, dating it to the 15th week of 1958. The speaker has been professionally reconed and sounds and tests great. Both the Tranco-made power and output transformers are original to the amp and are both dated to the 8th week of 1958. The amp has otherwise seen our typical maintenance and servicing including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors and any other out-of-spec components, as well as a 3-prong grounded power cord, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and output tubes biased to spec.
This is a rare and impressively preserved gem of an amplifier with punchy sound adding a nice growl when turned up. Although this model (and Vega amps in general) are obscure to most 21st century players, this is a worthy small/mid sized combo in all regards. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a wonderful example of the Director Model A-60, made by Vega just before their electric instrument line was largely abandoned due to the sudden folk-era demand for the company's banjos. Founded in 1881 and initially established as a guitar and mandolin maker, Vega became one of the biggest names in banjos in the early 20th century. Poised to be a major player in amplified guitars before WWII, Vega never quite seemed to recapture that momentum after the war. Still, the company's well-made and classy amplifiers could still be an alluring purchase to the aspiring guitarist of 1959!
Clad in a fairly sturdy two-tone leatherette covering with gold piping connecting the borders and art deco-inspired graphics on the control panel, the "Director" almost looks as if it hails from a decade or two earlier! Sporting a similar format to the ever-popular Fender Deluxe 5E3 with a slight tweak, the amp has two regular inputs plus a third 'micro'/microphone input, with a shared volume control for inputs 1 and 2 and a separate volume control for input 3, as well as one master tone control. The push-pull pair of 6V6 output tubes yield around 15 watts into a single 12" Jensen speaker. Although similar to a 5E3, the circuit very much has it's own oddities and quirks about it that set it apart. These were likely made for Vega by Lectrolab just out of Chicago, IL, as both the circuit and design shares similarities with the Harmony H204 and R500.
Height is 17 1/4 in. (43.8 cm.), 20 1/4 in. (51.4 cm.) width, and 9 in. (22.9 cm.) in depth at deepest point.
Cosmetically, this "Director" is in fabulously good shape considering it's a nearly 70-year-old amplifier! The two-tone leatherette covering is almost entirely absent of any notable wear and even the gold piping trim is nicely intact. Even the acrylic Vega logo is present and in one piece, save for a small crack near the top. The woven grille cloth is in equally nice condition; it's showing subtle markings from the speaker circumference but is otherwise free of any tears or signs of fraying. The control panel beautifully clean with all its stenciled lettering and art deco graphics nicely intact. The handle shows significant wear but still has life left in it!
Electrically, this little combo appears nicely original. The 12" Jensen P12R speaker bears the code 220-815, dating it to the 15th week of 1958. The speaker has been professionally reconed and sounds and tests great. Both the Tranco-made power and output transformers are original to the amp and are both dated to the 8th week of 1958. The amp has otherwise seen our typical maintenance and servicing including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors and any other out-of-spec components, as well as a 3-prong grounded power cord, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and output tubes biased to spec.
This is a rare and impressively preserved gem of an amplifier with punchy sound adding a nice growl when turned up. Although this model (and Vega amps in general) are obscure to most 21st century players, this is a worthy small/mid sized combo in all regards. Overall Excellent - Condition.