Description
Up for sale is this wonderful vintage 1970’s (likely 1976) Vega (a CF Martin Company) Acoustic Guitar. This is a Sunburst Honey 646 model.
FREE SHIPPING is available on this item.
This is a really super find. It is in good to very good condition.
History of Vega: Vega is a company that’s been producing guitars, banjos and other instruments since the 19th century. According to Wikipedia: “In the 1970s, the C. F. Martin Company purchased Vega in the hope of capitalizing on the popularity of Vega’s banjos among folk musicians. Under the Vega name, Martin produced guitars with the Vega logo on their headstocks in a Netherlands guitar factory (and probably others), usually with a label referencing “C.F. Martin Organization.” These instruments were produced during most of the 1970s. The “netherlands factory” was the Egmond factory which Martin had an agreement with at the time.”
This guitar plays beautifully. It has recently been one of my go-to guitars to just pick up and play, because it sounds so full, warm and at the same time.. bright! I can see why Martin acquired this company.
The build of the guitar:
- Dreadnought shape
- Very solid
- Spruce top
- Solid maple back and sides
- Rosewood fretboard
- Ebonized rosewood bridge
- All original hardware (pickguard, strap buttons, tuners, etc.)
The original label is affixed to the inside under the sound hole. It reads: “A Part of the CF Martin Organization – Vega – Made in the Netherlands”.
The model number “646” is stamped inside the body near where the neck is attached. There is also the number “2” stamped near the model number. I believe this may be a grade level, for example grades 1 – 3 for various quality levels.
Overall Condition: The guitar is in good to very good condition. The finish color is warm and beautiful. The sound quality is warm and full. Frets are in very good condition.
- There are minor scratches and rubbings on the guitar, which is typical of age and mild use. All marks are visible in the pictures.
- There are some finish / lacquer cracks on the top and bottom boards, which is normal for age and minor temperature changes throughout the years. They do not affect the play-ability of the guitar and show up more in the pictures than in person.
- There are no cracks in the wood.
- A three of the tuners have some chrome flaking off in some areas (nothing major).
- The action is pretty good. At the 12th fret the string height between the fret and the bottom of the low E string is almost 5/32″ or somewhere between 3.5mm and 4mm. The action may be able to be improved a bit with some truss rod adjustments.
- At the 2nd fret, the action is low enough that you cannot fit a quarter between the string and the fret.
- The neck is straight and not warped.
Dimensions:
– Overall length: 40 3/4”
– Body width: 15 1/2”
– Fretboard length: 17 3/4”
– Neck width at top nut (narrowest point): 1 11/16”
– Body depth (deepest part): 4 3/4”
Dexterity:
– Right Handed
Playlist
1 Videos
Vega 646 Acoustic Guitar
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