I recently purchased a Vega bowlback serial number 22912 and was wondering if this could possibly shed some light on the age of this instrument. It sure is a sweet player!
I recently purchased a Vega bowlback serial number 22912 and was wondering if this could possibly shed some light on the age of this instrument. It sure is a sweet player!
I would have thought circa 1910-1920 but there is usually a number on the headstock top edge that can date it for you.
https://www.4stringbanjos.com/vega-serial-numbers
Are the SN for Vega mandolins consistent with those for banjos?
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
Mick
Using that site suggests this mandolin is 1905 which seems reasonable but I may be wrong on that assertion!
Thanks, Nick.
I was asking because I simply don’t know myself.
The banjo SNs on that site appear to continue right on through ‘Vega purchase’ in 1904.
Vega was likely making mandolins before this date after consolidation with Fairbanks and others.
How they merged SNs or kept them separate was at theeart of my question.
There’s been other references to Vega SNs here and likely I’ll get straightened our.
I would have guesses 1905 even without a SN or banjo website….
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
That is beautiful! Interesting that Fairbanks /Vega, Weymann and Mondello used the same headstock (Weymann top).
Jon
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Besides his regular NPR gig, Jim, perhaps Bob Mondello dabbles in luthiery.
Or maybe it his haircut that picks up on the headstock styling?
That headstock shape, sometimes referred to here as an "open book profile" or referencing Baroque broken pediments was a regular feature of Vinaccia mandolins which certainly had a wide influence both in Italy and the US at this time.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
The "hole in the headstock" design is the true Mannerist detail.
Michelangelo would have approved.
Now, I'm wishing for another Vega bowl.
They have their own very special sound.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
To the OP: I especially love the sound of my Vega 3 when strung with Dogal Calace RW92b Dolce strings.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
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