I got a wonderful new LP style guitar today.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 31 Jan 2005 3:18 pm

This on E-bay is not the actual one I bought, but is virtually identical (except for the dings.) Somebody here ought to grab this one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3779749026&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

The Vega company made some of the best banjos in the world, and a few jazz guitars, but went out of business decades ago. They were bought by the Martin Guitar company. But Martin never did much with the line, and eventually sold it. The company is now a subsidiary of Deering Banjos, who are reproducing the old Vega banjos, but not the guitars.

I have a Vega strat (neck through body hard tail) that was clearly made by the same people who made this one, and I showed pictures of it to people at both Martin and Deering, and each says it was made be the other.

I eventually found out that when Martin sold the company, it was purchased by a man named Peter Jung, who went bankrupt after only 2 years. I don't know why he went broke, but I suspect that it was because he put so much into his guitars, in terms of both labor and materials, that he was never able to recoup his investments.

This new guitar is carved from a single piece of mahogany. The only word that can even begin to describe the quality of these 2 guitars is exquisite. As you can see from the one on E-bay, they are very plain, no frills instruments. I have many guitars that are much prettier, but functionally, these are among the very best in my collection.

I'm stoked.[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 31 January 2005 at 04:51 PM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 31 Jan 2005 3:34 pm

Mike, the link doesn't seem to work; could you please re-check it?

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 31 Jan 2005 4:14 pm

Nice stuff indeed! I have a 5 string "Vega" banjo from when MR. Jung had the name and let me tell you , it puts many other banjos to shame!( sorry b0b)

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Sho-Bud ProII, Pro III custom,
Fender Steelking,Hilton pedal,Tut Taylor "Virginian"

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 31 Jan 2005 4:49 pm

I fixed the link. Somehow I screwed it up the first time, but it should work now. Here it is again. If still doesn't work, just go to electric guitars on E-Bay and do a search for "Vega".
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3779749026&rd =1&ssPageName=WDVW

This seems to be a really superior guitar, and at the price it's going for, somebody is going to get a great bargain. I hope it's somebody here. [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 31 January 2005 at 04:55 PM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 31 Jan 2005 4:58 pm

It looks sort of ordinary to me. What makes it so special to you, Mike?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 31 Jan 2005 5:31 pm

I can't put it into words Bobby. But when I evaluate a guitar, my hands tell me more than my eyes or ears, and my hands say this one is up there with the best of them.

We've all heard the expression "Eye candy." This guitar is "hand candy."

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 31 Jan 2005 6:06 pm

Isn't Vega the one who made a banjo that was like a guitar, in the 70's? It sounded much like a plectrum banjo but fingered like a guitar. A fellow in our trio of the time had one, but after 30 years the memory dims.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 31 Jan 2005 6:35 pm

Ken. Several companies have made, and are still making these. Now they call them "banjatars". I have one. You can hear me play it on the song "Cool" on my West Side Story CD.

But the old Vega company has nothing in common with the makers of this guitar except the name.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 1 Feb 2005 2:59 pm

You snuck a banjo into my CD collection? I'm ashamed of you, Mike!

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 1 Feb 2005 4:22 pm

You snuck a banjo into my CD collection?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 1 Feb 2005 4:30 pm

Earlier I used the phrase hand candy.

Let me add another. EAR CANDY. I've been playing this sucker all day, and the more I play it, the more I like it. It just sings.

Last night another guitarist came over and we compared it to several (not all) of my other guitars, and it sounded noticably better (and definately louder) than any of the others. Probably because this is because of the one piece mahogany body, and as well as what appear to be Dimarzio pickups.

Maybe I'm not thinking clearly because I just got it, and it's still new, but I think this is one of the best guitars in my collection.

Somebody really ought to grab the one on E-bay before it's too late.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 1 Feb 2005 4:39 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
Somebody really ought to grab the one on E-bay before it's too late
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Or before the price becomes unmanagable because of all these collectors hoarding
them.

How tragic.

-John

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www.ottawajazz.com

Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 2 Feb 2005 1:15 pm

Better than this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38086&item=3779135973&rd=1

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martin abend Pedal-Steel in Germany
s-10 sierra crown gearless 3 x4 | fender hotrod deluxe

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 3 Feb 2005 8:02 am

Hey Mike, I'd sure like to have that guitar myself, it's a beaut. I think sometimes with the Gibsons you're just paying for the name. I have an old Ibanez Artist solid body which I'd stack up against any Les Paul out there. I've had a couple of Pauls since I've had this guitar and have kept it in favor over them. I just bought a very old Paul style guitar this morning from a private party that's been in a garage for a very long time. It's a sunburst Aria Pro II Les Paul style. It says "PE-500" on the truss rod cover. It only has one volume and tone knob and a 3 way toggle switch. The bridge and tailpiece are one unit and pretty heavy duty. The bridge was out of tune and very corroded but with some WD-40 I've loosened it up and adjusted the intonation to where it plays in tune now. Have you ever seen these? They're a pretty darn nice guitar. I'm going to restring it this afternoon and take it to the gig tonight to see how it performs. The frets and fretboard are in really great shape...JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 3 Feb 2005 9:22 am

Jerry, that one on E-bay is STILL available.

The one I got just sings. It could easily become one of my favorites.

I almost wish I didn't have so may guitars already. As it is, I can't really justify buying many more of them. Plus, I've run out of space to store them all.

Aria Pro II makes good stuff. I've said before, these new Asian guitars are a Godsend to guys like us.

I've been hearing a lot of good things about a company named "AGILE". Our fellow forumite Frank Estes has one of their Les Pauls and loves it. Frank and I don't always agree on some things, but I trust his judgement on this. My next guitar will be an Agile Baritone, with a 28 inch scale and active pickups.

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In my life, I have experience both wealth and poverty, and after carefully comparing the two, I've come to the conclusion that wealth is better.

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 3 Feb 2005 6:40 pm

It's a sunburst Aria Pro II Les Paul style. It says "PE-500" on the truss rod cover. It only has one volume and tone knob and a 3 way toggle switch.

Jerry, These are very fine guitars from the mid to late seventies. These were made at the Matsuka factory and are some of the best guitars of that era. I own a PE 450 that is an awesome guitar. They are not valuable in a money sense as you can find them for well under $1k all day long. They are however, a brilliant example of quality Japanese craftsmanship. I also have an Ibanez AM250 from the same era. It is a stunningly good semi hollow body similar to an ES 335. These are by far the best bargain in vintage guitars. I also have an Electra Omega with the Gibson "open book" headstock. It is from 76 and is a take on the LP...again, a really fine little guitar.

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 4 Feb 2005 4:58 am

Steve, thanks for the info. I only paid $125 for the guitar with a hardshell case. The binding in very yellowed and cracked and the guitar really looks vintage and I guess it is...... It's got great sustain and plays in tune all the way up the neck. I just had to do a small truss rod tweak of about a quarter turn and the neck is now as straight as an arrow. It had .09's on it but I put on a set of 10-46 strings and it really cooks now. I think this guitar is going to see a lot of action. I like the sound of this guitar a lot. I don't play my old Ibanez Artist a lot anymore as it's as heavy as a Les Paul but this guitar is a couple of pounds lighter and has the contoured back so it's really comfortable. Have a good 'un...JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 4 Feb 2005 10:33 am

Shades of Danelectro!

I don't care how good it plays or sounds, Mike.

It's ugly.

Even if it had the "Gibson" name on it.

It would still be ugly.

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 5 Feb 2005 8:35 pm

Sounds like me with my mid 80's MIJ Tele, It beats the MIM Tele and the 1995 USA Tele I had hands down!

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 6 Feb 2005 2:26 am

I think that there are basically a ton of really nice guitars out there if you can get over the Les Paul/Strat/Tele hangup. Gibson themselves made a cheaper Les Paul, all mahogany, that sounded really sweet - Bob Marley used to play one. They also made a solid maple guitar called the L6-S that sounded sort of like a humbucker-equipped Strat, but it wasn't too shrill or heavy like most maple guitars because the body was thin. That Matsumoku factory in Japan at one point or another made Electra, Westbury, Epiphone, and Washburn guitars among many others.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 8 Feb 2005 5:27 am

Mike, I think that's one awesome guitar and if I had a place for it, it'd be in my collection for sure. I like a guitar not for the brand name but for it's sound and playability. I have a Schecter Mercury Strat style guitar that I kept in favor over an American Made Hardtail Strat because the Schecter was a better guitar hands down. I've kept my Ibanez Artist a lot of year over some Les Pauls because it was a better guitar. I recently sold my old '67 Gibson Trini Lopez 335 style guitar because I didn't need it anymore. I never really liked the neck and my Epiphone Sheraton plays much better and is better looking. As far as that guitar on ebay being "ugly", I think it's beautiful and probably sounds great. The little Aria I just bought survived a gig and it's definately a keeper. It's got incredible sustain and looks and plays great and was a snap to set up.....JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.