Vega cylinder back mandolas/mandocellos

[boatman]

Does anyone recall ever actually seeing either of the above? I've been watching the classifieds here for several years and don't recall ever seeing one come on the market. Is it realistic to hold off on a mandola acquistion hoping to stumble oto one of the vintage Vega cylinder backs? Regards to all

[delsbrother]

Uh.. Isn't there one on the classifieds now?

[danb]

Yeah, both exist.. fairly rare. There are two combo mandolin/mandolas in the classifieds now, one is mine http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Bob DeVellis]

I've never seen a mandocello in the flesh that I can recall. I have a mandola that I very much like (see below). The 10-strings are rare birds and come in two styles, mandolin-sized and mandola-sized. I think both in the ads right now are mandolin-sized.

Based on experiments I've done with restringing my mandola, I think the full range of strings would work well on the 10 string mandola-sized instrument. Dan seems to have had very good luck with the mandolin-sized, too. I think the unique body shape gives the cylinder-backs a broader tonal range than flat-back instruments and, thus, more functionality in 10-string versions. I've never had hands-on experience with a 10-string of either size, though.

[mrbook]

One of the 10-strings in the classifieds is mine. I never expected to see one, but a couple days ago one of my scouts (I'm a rare book dealer) walked in with it under his arm, needing to sell it to pay for a car repair. It's not the instrument for me, but who knows where it would have ended up if I didn't buy it, so I paid him the money. Besides, you can't play mandolin and have one of these staring you in the face and turn it down. Some minor repairs (glue the crack at the end, replace the brads with screws on the tailpiece, and unglue the bridge) and it should be an excellent instrument. I do want to sell it before I am tempted to keep it, and will accept reasonable offers (end of commercial).

www.rare-books.com/musicinstruments.htm

[danb]

Bobd: I think Paul Ruppa has a vega mandocello? I recollect playing it. Some top sinkage, huge body, wonderful boooom to the tone.

Vegas are under-rated. They record WONDERFULLY too.

I keep meaning to visit Trevor down in Brighton to try his out.. hmm.. maybe I should do that soon while I've still got my 10-stirng!

[Bob DeVellis]

Dan - I think you're right about Paul having one. I also agree that they're underrated.

I ran into a luthier in Maine this summer who's made a few including, if I'm remembering correctly, some CBOM-sized ones. He said that it took a while to get a 2-piece back to work properly but he eventually succeeded. All I saw were photos of his cylinder-backs but they looked fantastic. More ornate than any Vega (contrasting wood binding, etc.) but otherwise quite true to the original design. He's doing exclusively repair work now but said tht he might start building again if things go right. I don't remember his name but I have his business card somewhere and can try to find if if anyone's interested.

[boatman]

Thanks for the replies. I have a 1916 Vega mandolin, so have not considered the 10 string in mandolin scale length. Sure would like to find a mandola to keep the mando company. Regards

[Linda Binder]

Yes, Paul does have a Vega mandocello. I'll try to post a couple of pics. I have a Vega CB mandola I love. They're great instruments.
--Linda

[Linda Binder]

In the preceding picture the only non Vega is the guitar. There are two mandolins, a mandola and the mandocello on the right--notice the very wide bridge to try to cope with the top sinkage.
--Linda

[Linda Binder]

(I forgot to mention the Vega mandobass in the picture.) Here is a closer look at the mandocello body.
--Linda

[Eugene]

Lovely. Thank you for the visual treat, Linda (and Paul)...and Bob (as always). Have you seen that cool image of Pettine and his comrades sporting Vegas?

[delsbrother]

That mandobass is out of control!

[danb]

There were 10-string mandocellos too. I'd love to see one of those in person http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Re-posting this image (from bobd I think?) from an old Crescendo magazine:

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/foo/vega_10_str/10_string_crescendo2.jpg

[kyblue]

That mandobass is awesome! I would love to hear one of those.

Great collection.

[Linda Binder]

The Vega mandobass is an awesome instrument. I had a great time last night playing in a mando quartet at a garden party. The mandobass was quite the topic of discussion afterward. Someone misheard and thought it was a "mango" bass, which was kind of funny--would've been nice to have one of Mr. Bussman's watermelon mandos to go with that. Eugene, I don't recall seeing the Pettine picture you referred to. Do you have a link up your sleeve?
-Linda

[Jim Garber]

Re-posting this image (from bobd I think?) from an old Crescendo magazine:
That was me on this thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=23035;st=25). I also found a photo there of a 10 string mandocello.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/uploads/post-15-31561-kitchener.jpg

Of course, Raffaele Calace designed, made and played one at least 10 years before Vega and called it liuto cantabile. He also composed some virtuoso pieces for that instrument.

I had a 10-string mandolin-scaled Vega years ago and could not figure out how to make it sound right. I tuned the C-string up to d for a while but then sold it. I think you are better off with a 8-string mandola.

Jim

[Eugene]

Of course, Raffaele Calace designed, made and played one at least 10 years before Vega and called it liuto cantabile. He also composed some virtuoso pieces for that instrument.
Calace claimed to have invented the thing, but there were other period builders (Vinaccias, e.g.) and there is the possibility Calace only refined it.

[Eugene]

PS: Is it just me or does that mando-cellist bear some resemblance to Richard Walz?

[Jim Garber]

PS: Is it just me or does that mando-cellist bear some resemblance to Richard Walz?
How dare you call our good friend Richard Walz a "mando-cellist bear." http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Jim

[Linda Binder]

...almost forgot to mention: Bob, your mandola is gorgeous!
-Linda

[PhilGE]

How dare you call our good friend Richard Walz a "mando-cellist bear."

'Cause he goes "Wa, Wah, Wa, Wa, Wah, Wa, Waltzing with bears... Mandy bears, dola bears, cello bears, too."

-Phil (ducking, wishing he'd bought an old cylinderback mandolin years ago)

[delsbrother]

Vega Cylinder tenor guitar on ebay now. (http://cgi.ebay.com/1930s-Vega-Tenor-Guitar_W0QQitemZ7402421566)

http://i4.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/ac/bc/84_12.JPG

[Bob DeVellis]

Although the company history is a bit garbled in the listing, it looks like a pretty cool instrument. I bet there's a fairly large price spike at the very end of the auction.

[Tim Conroy]

I bought an old Harmony tenor on a whim last week, then a few days later this comes along. I wish I would have waited to take a shot at a better instrument. Ironically, it's being sold by the same guy I bought the Harmony from. Oh well...

I'm curious as to what this will sell for. Any predictions?

[allenhopkins]

There's a Vega mando-bass currently on The Music Emporium's website:The Music Emporium - Detail Page (http:////www.themusicemporium.com/detail.asp?ItemID=MF8461)
They're asking close to $5K for it. Pretty gorgeous instrument, though not a cylinder back.

[dunbarhamlin]

Yum! Looking at the detail shots (http://www.themusicemporium.com/prodimages/MandoBass_5.jpg), this does indeed look cylinder-backed. (Here's the main Music Emporium link (http://www.themusicemporium.com/detail.asp?ItemID=MF8461) sans surplus slashes)
Hope to reproduce these at some point

[Bob DeVellis]

The Vega tenor sold for $1264, which is pretty much what I'd expected. Not a bad price for a fairly rare instrument and probably less than it would cost to make one today.

Looks from the bid history like a couple of sniper bids came in during the final seconds but that a previous bidder had set a maximum bid higher than the snipers' bids.

[delsbrother]

Is Eddie Condon playing a Vega cylinder back plectrum guitar in these clips?

Eddie sings! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8UcR1jGDD4)

St. Louis Blues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6JVgFBLjco)

The other instrument in the second clip looks Regal-ish. Are they both?

[danb]

I picked up the one Trevor had in Brighton btw, it's wonderful (mandola scale vs mandolin).. 2 different vega 10-strings on my next CD..

[Bob DeVellis]

Dan, congratulations; let us know how it works out. I've always suspected that the mandola-sized body would work better with ten strings than the smaller body (in the sense of supporting the tone of the full range of strings). Is that your experience?

[danb]

Yes, this one is much better than the small-body one