Vega steels

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

I haven't been able to find much info on Vega steels. Do they have good tone? I have my eye on a D-6. I'm finding that I need multiple tunings. Can someone share any knowledge or point me to some youtube links of a Vega being played?
Thank you.
Dave
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_Company

Forumite Fred Kinbom has one and it's on his new CD. Fred said:

"The Vega sounds great - it has quite a hollow resonance thing going which
might affect the electric sound in a good way. The pickup is great - I
normally prefer a warmer neck pickup sound, but this bridge pickup sounds
sweet. Very clear, but lovely with a touch of growl too - I used a touch
of just-enough-to-thicken-the-sound tube overdrive on one track."

My first lap steel was a Vega that I got as a birthday present from my wife. The case smelled like a pile of old socks so I traded it for a mandolin without ever even plugging it in. Bad decision. 25 years later I still hear about that one.

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

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Mark MacKenzie · From: Franklin, Tennessee, USA

Hey Michael, thanks for posting that. I have that Vega Commander 6 string. But I also have that amplifier. Can you post any info regarding the amp?
I need to find a schematic.
Thanks,
Mark

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

Deleted

Jim Newberry · From: Seattle, Upper Left America

I've got a '47 Vega Commander that I did a schematic for (incomplete). Here it is, if it helps you any.

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"The Masher of Touch and Tone"

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-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
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-~1940 National New Yorker
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CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

from the archives here

Mark MacKenzie · From: Franklin, Tennessee, USA

You guys are great. Very helpful. But... my amp is a push pull 6L6 power section with weird loctals for inputs. Its in the exact same wood case, though.

Its also a field coil speaker. I would guess by the loctal tubes that it is a late 40's edition.

As it is now, the power section seems ok but the input tubes seem weak. Can't get a strong signal thru it. Its been recapped but I don't know what the voltages should be on these tubes.

Thanks, Jim and Michael.

Mark

Jim Newberry · From: Seattle, Upper Left America

Yes, they ran those preamp sections with really low voltage. I've played around with increasing the voltages, but it's never gonna be a Twin Reverb...

CrowBear, looks you've got the world's biggest Vega stockpile. Nice!
_________________
"The Masher of Touch and Tone"

-1950 Fender Dual Pro 8
-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
-Clinesmith D8
-Clinesmith 8-string Frypan
-Clinesmith Joaquin
-~1940 National New Yorker
-~1936 Rickenbacher B6
-Homebuilt Amps

Dennis Smith · From: Covington, Georgia, USA

The black console is the one I would love to have. Great looking guitar.
Dennis

Peter Huggins · From: Van Nuys, California, USA

Thanks to Michael for posting the Vega catalog pages, I have an Odell lap steel. It only says Vega in the tiniest letters on the vol and tone number plates. Deke Dickerson surmised it was of Vega manufacture due to the plexiglas nut, fretboard and handrest but this is a further proof. It's a cheapie and not nearly as nice as any of those pictured upstream in this thread, but the single coil pickup screams like a real good P-90. I'll try to remember to post pictures real soon.
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A big THANKS to all my friends, here and everywhere !

Gary S. Lynch · From: Maryland, USA

Hi Dave,
I am no expert on the pickups but I have simultaneously owned a Vega 7 string Commander,Epiphone model m 7 string, and Audiovox 7 string and compared tones.
In an E 13 or C6 I think the The AudioVox and model M had the "high end tone" tone and clarity over the Vega. So.... I would think about what type of music you are playing .. Hank/ Hawaiian,etc., I am not sure about the D6.
BTW, in my humble opinion the Audiovox is the best and I rate it up with my Ric B6 in it's unique tone.

Fred Kinbom · From: Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

Thanks guys! Very Happy

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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

Giandomenico Fioretto · From: Italy

Hi ,this is my Vega Commander ,but the Case is not the original -Is a good amp for Harp guitar and steel guitar ,made in USA 1947 -with a Goodmans cone -sound great - I dont know the wattage,but with a 6L6 final ,I think about 10/12 watt - MERRY CHRISTMAS -

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Hi, I come from Cagliari ,Italy, I m an Harmonica blues player ,but I play too dobro and resofonic guitars , , !

John Booth · From: Columbus Ohio, USA

Noah Miller · From: Rocky Hill, CT

John Booth · From: Columbus Ohio, USA

Wow, these are very cool.
I didn't see any youtube vids on these. Do you know where I can hear one?
JB
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Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Chris Templeton · From: The Green Mountain State

The Vega lap steel was was my first steel (six string), which my Dad bought from a pawn shop when I was 13. It had a matching amp. The match was with the theme of the guitar case and not the guitar. The speaker grille was red. The amp also had a tan cover
I bucked wood to pay it down.
It is the same steel in CrowBear's second picture, at 4 o'clock.
My neighbor has them now.
From what Michael Lee Allen Posted, I see it is called the "Hawaiian Commander Guitar".
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Bob Russell · From: Virginia, USA

I have a "Dual Grande" which does not have the six tone switches. Maybe it's an earlier version? At any rate, it has a sweet tone.

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Lots of stringy things, many of them slidey.

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