NGD: 1940’s Vega Electrovox

[Rambozo96]

I probably shouldn’t have dropped the coin to get it but you don’t run into early examples of the electric guitar like this everyday. Had the neck reset and been regretted so all the dirty work was already done. Can’t wait for it to show up.

 

[GGJaguar]

Looks great, congrats! Can't wait to read your NGD report when it arrives.

 

[Stuball48]

Good looking guitar!!

 

[zizala]

Love it.......looks great and early electric archtops can sound like no others.
I'll be interested to hear how it sounds,...or at least you're take on it.
Nice that you're keeping it among the living!

I've noticed that during the early 40's there was a short stretch where most all the makers had introduced models with single pickups mounted towards the bridge position like this one. I know Epiphone and Gibson did....
I'm thinking they were going for a brighter sound to cut through in larger big band settings of the times....plus the amps back then were more on the warm side.
Nevertheless.....single pickups on archtops moved back up closer to the neck position by the end of the war as production of electrics began to take hold again.

I had a couple acoustic Vega acoustic archtops that were great sounding in a very "forward" sort of way.
Kind of audacious in a good way for those that know how to drive them.....

z

 

[jp]

Congratulations! That's a nice looking Vega. It has that look of some '30s and '40s guitars with the smaller upper bout and accentuated lower bout, which I imagine creates a pretty unique sound. I seem to recall Regal, Kay, Vega, Epiphone, and others from this era had this body style. Interesting knob placement -- almost seems like it was set up to be for lefties too, or maybe it was converted? Curious to see what your impressions are when you get it.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Nice score! But — "regretted"? Your Freudian slip showing!

 

[Canard]

Congratulations!

Very sweet! Very cool!







Now you need a companion for it so it doesn't get lonely:

Vega Model 120 | Vintage Guitar® magazine

Viewed from our contemporary perspective, it’s difficult to fully appreciate how different the music scene in general – and the guitar scene in particular – was back in the early part of the last century. When the electric guitar hit the ground as a viable entity in the mid 1930s, everything was...

www.vintageguitar.com

 

[bobouz]

Congrats - beautiful top on that one!