In the research into the relative scarcity of Vega Mandocellos, we came across this one (sold originally in 2019 in TN) and knew that it had been through some stuff. When it came up again, we decided to take a flyer on it it with the hope that it could be set to rights. But that is what the Home is for: rehabilitation and restoration…
Here is the original description.
“A Vega model 402 mando-cello made between the mid 1910’s to 20’s. In the first decade of the 20th century, the Vega company released their “Lute Mandolin” series of mandolin family instruments. This included mandolin, mandola, mando-cello, and mando-bass. The instruments in this series all have the Vega “patented semi-arched back construction”, also called “cylinder back”. It has mahogany back and sides and a spruce top. There are multiple crack repairs. The top has some distortion and has sunken at the bridge. The body has been refinished, and binding has been repaired. It is fully playable, and has a good tone.”
Here is the more recent one.
“Very rare 1914 model 402 Vega cylinder back mandocello with non-original hard shell case. Back and sides are Mahogany with spruce top. Fretboard and bridge are ebony. The hardware and bridge appear to be original. This mandocello has been refinished at some point. A number of body and top cracks were repaired as well. As can be seen in the photos the bridge was at one point glued down but is now properly floating again allowing proper intonation. The action of the long 26″ scale length neck is low and the sound is full and rich. The sound is somewhere between a Gibson K1 mandocello and a guitar.”
Restoration on this instrument continues, with the back being taken completely off. All previous repairs largely undone (there was bondo in there holding some repairs together. The top had been sanded down at least once before and there wasn’t enough material to sustain a second sanding to restore the top to its natural state, so we made the difficult decision to double down on the black (but to correct the sloppy way it was done previously).
Non-original hard shell case.
SN: 31041
