Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Could use help identifying this (supposedly vintage) Mandolin

  1. #1

    Post Could use help identifying this (supposedly vintage) Mandolin

    Hello, everyone. First of all let me just say this is a great community! It's great to see such a passionate group of people all discussing a shared interest. Bravo!

    I'm a long time musician who is looking dabble in Mandolin. I have the opportunity to purchase this "closet find" from an old relative that appears to be authentic, but I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to "vintage" instruments.

    I'm hoping you all can help me!

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Screen Shot 2021-09-21 at 9.55.29 AM.png 
Views:	104 
Size:	642.7 KB 
ID:	196418
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Screen Shot 2021-09-20 at 9.08.34 PM.png 
Views:	142 
Size:	3.69 MB 
ID:	196420
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Screen Shot 2021-09-21 at 9.59.16 AM.png 
Views:	104 
Size:	909.6 KB 
ID:	196421
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Screen Shot 2021-09-21 at 10.00.01 AM.png 
Views:	120 
Size:	646.0 KB 
ID:	196422

    The seller wants a little over ~$200 USD. He thinks it's from the late 70's or 80's, and has been stored in this case indoors since then. I've read a bit about the Korean/Japanese imports but I'm not really sure how to identify one, or if they're worth anything.

    What do you guys think? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm about to go meet him to look at this in person later today. Huge thanks in advance!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Screen Shot 2021-09-21 at 9.54.36 AM.png 
Views:	94 
Size:	858.9 KB 
ID:	196419  

  2. #2
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,078

    Default Re: Could use help identifying this (supposedly vintage) Mandolin

    I would call it an older instrument, but not "vintage" by my standards.
    It was built either while Martin owned the Vega name in the 1970's, or shortly thereafter when Galaxy Trading Company picked up the brand.
    It was not made in the US. It was either built in Japan or Korea by whatever factory was building Sigma guitars at the time, or possibly in the Netherlands, where Martin had a few guitars built with the Vega label.

    $200 sounds like a fair price, at least as long as it is in decent condition and doesn't need any major work to make it playable. It's hard to say much more about it, since we can't tell from the pictures whether or not the instrument was made from all solid woods.
    Either way, it is not a valuable instrument.

  3. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to rcc56 For This Useful Post:


  4. #3

    Default Re: Could use help identifying this (supposedly vintage) Mandolin

    If you're looking to "dabble" in mandolin, this one should be good enough to get you started, given the caveats mentioned by rcc56 above.

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

  5. #4
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Could use help identifying this (supposedly vintage) Mandolin

    Several threads in VM-marked Vega mandolins; here's one.

    I'd say definitely Asian-made, probably 1980's when the Vega trademark was sold to a distributor, rather than a manufacturer like C F Martin. Other "VM" mandolins are very much like Asian models with other labels.

    Probably a decent instrument (hope so, anyway), but don't pay too much -- couple hundred, maybe?
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •