1919 Vega Style 202 Cylinder-Back Mandolin

This gorgeous piece of equipment has a serial number that dates it to 1919 or close to it. It's a Style 202 mandolin which means a spruce top over mahogany back and sides and finished in natural. I've worked on a good number of cylinder-back Vega mandolins, now, and all of them have been stunners when they've been gone through -- they play quick and easy, have superb tone (like the warmth of a flatback, the sculpt/punch of an archtop, and the sweet clarity of a good bowlback), and are eminently suited to Celtic-style ramblings or old-time and folksy/rootsy work.

This one arrived at the shop in pretty decent shape but needed, basically, glorified setup work. Between Jose and myself it got fret seating and a level/dress of the frets, bridge compensation, some minor brace repairs to the back, and setup work done. It's now playing spot-on and ready to serve.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, minor hairline crack repair and brace reglues, bridge adjustments, and setup.

• Weight: 1 lb 9 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: medium-full C/D
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 9 7/8"
• Body depth: 2 3/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: ebony
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 36w-10
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: lower/smaller bar stock

Condition notes: there's an old hairline side crack repair to the bass side that is basically invisible and just looks like lighter grain. There's a hairline repair to the back (pictured in glare) that has a little fill in it and it's stable. It has a replacement set of tuners (StewMac repro-style) and a new strap button and newer screws fit at the tailpiece. The finish overall looks excellent but it has mild weather-checking to it throughout and a little playwear/usewear here and there. There's a strap button added at the heel, too.

It comes with: sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: LCL