Vega D-100 Hollow Body Electric Mandolin , c. 1950
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Vega D-100 Model Hollow Body Electric Mandolin, c. 1950, made in Boston, Mass., serial # 5164, sunburst lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, ebony fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
This is a very cool and fairly unusual Vega electric mandolin from the beginning of the 1950's, offering simple cosmetics but superbly made. Like all vintage Vega products this is a very high quality instrument, essentially their standard acoustic mandolin with a large white-plastic covered pickup mounted between the bridge and soundhole. Vega didn't make many mandolins in this era, and even fewer electrics!
The two-point body design harks back to the company's "Cylinder Back" mandolins of the 1910s, but has a simple arched back and top. The top, back and dot-inlaid fingerboard are single bound, the mandolin finished overall in a subtle sunburst. The fittings include Waverly openback strip tuners, a conventional adjustable ebony bridge and "clamshell" tailpiece, raised tortoise celluloid pickguard and idiosyncratic white plastic knobs. The cable connection is unique as well, an unusual single-pin/Amphenol style we have not seen on any other brand of instrument.
While almost hopelessly obscure (try finding them in most reference books!) these 1950s Vegas are really neat instruments, well built, great sounding and definitely unique than and now. This mandolin has a more "acoustic-y" sound than many older electrics, courtesy of its unusual large flat-coil pickup. The guitars and this rare mandolin from the 1940-50s are sadly overlooked pieces of Vega's mostly forgotten electric history. This is the nicest example of any period Vega we have ever seen, looking hardly ever used housed in the original brown hardshell case.
Overall length is 25 1/4 in. (64.1 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
This is an all original, super clean; a 100% intact and unaltered instrument that appears little used in 75 or so years. All finish, fittings and hardware are original and the mandolin is fully functional as intended. Basically as nice as we generally expect to see instruments of this vintage, a fine player in a clean original case. Excellent + Condition.
This is a very cool and fairly unusual Vega electric mandolin from the beginning of the 1950's, offering simple cosmetics but superbly made. Like all vintage Vega products this is a very high quality instrument, essentially their standard acoustic mandolin with a large white-plastic covered pickup mounted between the bridge and soundhole. Vega didn't make many mandolins in this era, and even fewer electrics!
The two-point body design harks back to the company's "Cylinder Back" mandolins of the 1910s, but has a simple arched back and top. The top, back and dot-inlaid fingerboard are single bound, the mandolin finished overall in a subtle sunburst. The fittings include Waverly openback strip tuners, a conventional adjustable ebony bridge and "clamshell" tailpiece, raised tortoise celluloid pickguard and idiosyncratic white plastic knobs. The cable connection is unique as well, an unusual single-pin/Amphenol style we have not seen on any other brand of instrument.
While almost hopelessly obscure (try finding them in most reference books!) these 1950s Vegas are really neat instruments, well built, great sounding and definitely unique than and now. This mandolin has a more "acoustic-y" sound than many older electrics, courtesy of its unusual large flat-coil pickup. The guitars and this rare mandolin from the 1940-50s are sadly overlooked pieces of Vega's mostly forgotten electric history. This is the nicest example of any period Vega we have ever seen, looking hardly ever used housed in the original brown hardshell case.
Overall length is 25 1/4 in. (64.1 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
This is an all original, super clean; a 100% intact and unaltered instrument that appears little used in 75 or so years. All finish, fittings and hardware are original and the mandolin is fully functional as intended. Basically as nice as we generally expect to see instruments of this vintage, a fine player in a clean original case. Excellent + Condition.