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1940 Vega C-66

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Serial #: 40687, gold Boston label

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25" Nut Width: 1 10/16"

Finish: Original sunburst finish, nitrocellulose type

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; flame maple back and sides; solid mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; pyralin inlaid peghead and fingerboard; bound fingerboard; triple-bound top; elevated fingerboard extension; steel reinforced neck.

Hardware: 100% original Vega hardware includes nickel trapeze tailpiece, adjustable "Acoustic Balanced" bridge, open-back nickel Grover Stat-Tite tuners, original bound bakelite pickguard.

Notes: By the time Elmer Stromberg started building guitars in Boston, the Vega Company had been making instruments in that city for over a generation. One of the preeminent banjo manufacturers, Vega introduced its first archtop in 1933, and continued making top-flight hand carved instruments for several decades. This guitar is an outstanding example from their prime years, with a solid handcarved bookmatched spruce top, all original hardware, and handsome tiger flame maple back and sides.

The instrument has been preserved in remarkably fine condition, with gleaming sunburst finish free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and just a single grainline crack near the pickguard soundly resealed. The neck profile is the slimmest to be found on any prewar guitar, and the solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard features the original brass fretwork in great condition. Even the original bound bakelite pickguard is in excellent shape.

The action is low and fast, and the sound is clear and open, with phenomenal projection and cutting power. And finally, this example is from the first year for the suspended fingerboard extension, which allows for easy installation of a floating pickup. A rare and stylish instrument, this exceptional beauty combines the best of prewar tone with sleek contemporary playability.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridgewheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.057). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original Vega tweed fiber case.

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