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1957 Vega Model C-166
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Serial #: 5785, white Boston label
Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25" Nut Width: 1 10/16"
Materials: Solid hand carved Adirondack spruce top; highly figured tiger flame maple top, back and sides; solid Honduras mahogany neck; bound Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and headstock; triple-bound top
Hardware: Original rosewood and ebony bridge. Nickel Duo-Tron trapeze tailpiece with tone and volume controls, nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners, bound tortoise pickguard with Kent Armstrong adjustable PAF humbucking pickup.
Notes: One of America's pioneering builders of fretted instruments, the Vega company of Boston introduced its first archtop in 1933, and its first cutaway in 1949. This guitar is a rare example of their later production, with a 17" parallel braced Venetian cutaway body reserved only for the top of the line.
This example most likely dates to the mid-50's, with all original blonde finish and a solid Adirondack red spruce top, the highly prized tonewood found on prewar Martins and Gibsons. The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard is straight and true, with an adjustable truss rod and fine pro fretwork. The instrument shows no cracks, and just light normal playwear on the body and neck. The guitar is equpped with the ingenious Duo-Tron tailpiece, with tone and volume controls, which replaces an aftermarket tailpiece previously installed on the instrument. Nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners, a bound tortoise pickguard, and a Kent Armstrong adjustable PAF humbucking pickup have been installed.
Vegas are particularly renowned for their slim, fast necks, and are ideal for the contemporary player looking for vintage tone without the bulky neck profile found on many instruments of the period. An unbeatable value in a classic American carved top guitar.
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 nickel roundwound 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: Black plushlined hardshell case.
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