1900s Vega Fancy Bowlback Mandolin

Overview: This is a quite-fancy Vega bowlback mandolin from around 1900. The top of the headstock has been modified so the serialization scheme is missing (as it would have been stamped up there) so I can't date it exactly. As per the usual, it's a high-quality instrument and (like all Vega bowlbacks I've played) has a warmer, fuller, louder sound compared to the rest of the crowd (save Larson builds), too. When it was made, this would have been pretty far up Vega's food chain of bowlback models, considering the number of rosewood ribs in its back and the extra trim everywhere. 

Interesting features: It's got a ton of pearl inlay in the pickguard, soundhole rosette, and fretboard -- and even has pearl "rings" around the tuner shafts. The purfling around the top is several layers thick and it has celluloid binding at the fretboard, top, rosette, and skirting on the side of the bowl. It's spiff!

Repairs included: This mandolin arrived with a few old repairs done but needed a bit to be a solid player. The most dramatic fix was the install of a 1/2" dowel internally that connects the neckblock to the endblock -- the endblock was cut too thin at the factory and there was compression fatigue in that area and this is the only (practical) way I know to keep instruments with that type of fatigue happy. It's non-obvious (we paint the dowels black) and doesn't hurt the sound -- if anything, on instruments we've installed them in, the sound is improved as it takes compression stress off of the top. It then got a level/dress of the frets, cleats for a hairline crack on the top-lower-bout, repairs to various loose seams on the back, cleaning, and setup. Tim did all of this work, as I recall, though I did tweak a few frets higher up the fretboard later-on. We compensated the bone saddle insert on the bridge as much as possible, too. It's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 1 lb 7 oz
• Scale length: 13 1/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/16"
• Neck shape: medium C
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 13/16"
• Depth at seventh fret: 31/32"
• Body width: 7 7/8"
• Body depth: 5 1/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid Brazilian rosewood
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: ebony with bone insert
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32w-9 extra lights
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: very low/very narrow

Condition notes: The top of the headstock has been modified, likely because of damage. These usually have that open-frame, Italian-looking shape and they're a little fragile. It still looks cool, though! I think the top and headstock have had some overspray but the rest of the instrument looks normal, finish-wise. There are a few seams on the bowl that are not perfectly aligned (they were repaired a little offset some time back) but they're not distracting or stand-out. There's a repaired hairline crack in the top on the treble side. There are some minor scuffs, scratches, and whatnot here and there throughout, with most of the wear seen on the top. It's completely original except for the headstock alteration and likely top and headstock overspray.

It comes with: This actually has a good, hard case (surprisngly)!

Consignor tag: RIMS