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Thread: Vega Cylinder Back

  1. #1
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Vega Cylinder Back

    https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/102866488

    A Vega Cylinder Back just showed up on Shopgoodwill, for those that may be interested. It appears to need a bit of TLC to get in playing shape.

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  3. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vega Cylinder Back

    Not only that but it is one of the 10 string models. They made two: one with shorter mandolin scale and one with mandola scale. I am guessing this is the former.

    I actually owned the shorter scale one many years ago. I tried to sell it to Tiny Moore but he was the wiser.
    Jim

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  5. #3
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    Default Re: Vega Cylinder Back

    It needs a lot of tlc.

    I see at least four top cracks, signs that the top is coming loose from the rims near the tailpiece, loose top binding near the bass side body point, and signs that the tail block might be pulling forward. Any buyer should be prepared to encounter other things that also need attention, and limit the maximum that they are willing to bid to accommodate at least a few hundred dollars in repairs to stabilize the instrument and get it into good playing condition.

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  7. #4

    Default Re: Vega Cylinder Back

    There was one recently on eBay that looked to be in better condition and I was quite interested- it had its original case in very good order. The mandolin had lost its original bridge- the newer bridge was propped up on cardboard but the seller did a photo for me that suggested the top had not sunk at all. Anyway, I missed it and it went for $560! At that price, I am in for a further $145 as tax, import duty and a handling charge!

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  9. #5
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    Default Re: Vega Cylinder Back

    Just for comparison's sake, I regularly see reputable dealers listing Vega 8 string cylinder back mandolins for +/- $1500 in nice condition.

    There are usually also a couple of them floating around on Reverb, and Bernunzio has a model 205 with fancy trim in curly maple for $2500 [nfi]. They've got it mislabeled as a 207, but it's still an upper line Vega, and it's been there long enough that they would probably accept an offer.
    Last edited by rcc56; Sep-09-2020 at 1:13pm.

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  11. #6

    Default Re: Vega Cylinder Back

    I thought that $560 was a very good price and maybe I should have made my final bid a bit higher but I didn't and it was eclipsed in the last few seconds- too late to bid higher. The seller told me he was an airline pilot and under different conditions he might have been able to deliver it in person. However, it was being sold via the Global Shipping Program, so the extra costs I quoted would have to be paid at the close to finish the sale.

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  13. #7
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vega Cylinder Back

    Personally I think the 8 strings are superior instruments to the shorter scale 10 strings. I never played the longer scans 10 string but I heard they sound better.
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  15. #8
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vega Cylinder Back

    Bob Page just posted an ad in the classifieds for a fancier Vega 10-string CB. This one has rosewood B&S plus Handel tuners.

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    Jim

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  17. #9
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vega Cylinder Back

    Man if I had those 10 string Handel tuners I'd be inclined to slap them on a beat 24 Tenor Lute I have for conversion man! SWEET!

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