Vega Guitars?

[nick1994]

I saw an Archtop from the 50s with the brand Vega, but I've never heard of them. Anyone know of these guitars?

[cmajor9]

Vega is a brand name with a long history as a musical instrument maker. It was founded in the 1880's by a pair of immigrants, like some other famous American brands. Here's some info:

Vega Company - Wikipedia

Vega produced some high quality archtop guitars in the 30s (both acoustic and fitted with pickups). Later, they contracted out the manufacture of some instruments. In the 70's they were purchased by Martin (largely on the reputation of their banjos).

[Doublea A]

I remember them making "student" guitars in the 70's. My friend had one when he started taking lessons. He stopped playing after 6 months and guitar wound up being sold in a street wide garage sale to another beginner student.


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[Stuart Elliott]

I recall seeing a local Wichita jazz guitarist playing a Vega archtop. It had a very nice sound. I think it would be worth checking out if you are looking to buy an archtop.

[Stringswinger]

Vega made some decent archtops back in the day. Like many brands, over time ownership was sold and IIRC, by the 60's the day of quality, pro level Vegas was gone.

[neatomic]

they had some cool looking amps too

like this vega commodore



here's the inside



from the good folks @ The Steel Guitar Forum :: View topic - Vega Lap Steel Amplifier

cheers

[nopedals]

I don't think they had truss rods ...

[Little Jay]

[Greentone]

Vega was a great banjo/guitar maker out of Boston. Their banjos were and are prized. Their top model guitars of the 30s were Gibson quality. I used to play one. It was about on par with an L7.

Martin bought the company and phased out the guitars, but continued to produce the banjos until 1970 or so.

[Tom Karol]

My first electric guitar - a Vega E40D (c 1961):

Alas, picture is from the web; I sold mine in 1969.
But it was a very decent guitar!

[Greentone]

Here is the 1938 Vega C-66 I used to play. Joyously loud and tonefull.

[pingu]

Here is the 1938 Vega C-66 I used to play. Joyously loud and tonefull.

I played one like that in a shop , it was fantastic and about £500 !
They're lovely if you can handle
the lack of truss rod ...

[archtopeddy]

I always thought they were cool looking guitars. Here's Charlie Christian with an alleged Vega guitar. The amp looks like it's a Vega too.

[nick1994]

what's the issue with not having a trusrod

[cosmic gumbo]

When I first started playing, I remember they were a big name in banjos.

[Tom Karol]

Mine did have a truss rod.

[Ray175]

@nick1994 - without a truss rod, adjusting neck relief is hard if not impossible. I've recently gone from 11s to 14s on my ES175 and that called for a full half turn on the truss rod to get the neck relief right

[Greentone]

The 1938 C-66 had a truss rod (most guitars by the 1930s did), but it was not adjustable. I used this guitar around 2001-2003. It had a beautifully straight neck with medium gauge (.13 set) strings. It probably routinely was strung with heavier strings back in the 30s. The guy I turned it over to used .10s (ugh) and reported no problems.

Gibson was flipping brilliant coming up with an adjustable truss rod. When the patent expired, everybody got religion. Still, I have played many guitars with un-ajdustable rods (most Martins, for examples) and the only general complaint I would register is that too many people these days string up guitars with thread--i.e., extra-super-slinky strings. No amount of adjustment is going to make these acoustic guitars sound like anything but guitars waiting to be strung up right.

[mr. beaumont]

My guess is the necks on these are like 2x4's, and built when .014's were "medium light"

[Greentone]

One of the things I found interesting about the Vega archtop guitar was the bridge--it only has a foot extension on the bass side. (See picture.) This is supposed to improve the tone. I don't know for sure, but I can say that the C-66 sounds GREAT--every bit the equal of the 30s Gibson L7.


The early Vega Electric Guitars are also quite interesting. Here, too, is a shot of a Duo Tron. Early suspended pickup with the "works" attached to the tailpiece. Acoustic tone is preserved. (The bridge doesn't appear to be original.)

[pingu]

what's the issue with not having a trusrod

might need to adjust the relief ...

[Guitarprof7]

Here’s my D46 in progress

[rabbit]

Guitarprof7,

Nice to meet you.

Nice Vega, too!

Is that a small-bodied model?

I have a small-bodied 'C-40 Vegaphone' and love it.

Good luck with your project.

P.S.: Vega marketed a bunch of stuff; read somewhere Miles Davis played a Vega horn in the early days.

[citizenk74]

Here’s my D46 in progress