Advanced Search
Mando-cello
Alternate name:Mandocello
Alternate name:Mandolin
Maker: Vega Company
Date: 1920 ca.
Place Made:Boston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
Model: Vega Lute Mandocello Style 403 / cylinder back
Serial No: 37744
SignedPrinted on oval paper label the center with black background and white lettering: GUITARS·MANDOLINS·ZITHERS·BANDURRIAS / -·- VEGA -·- / [VCo. Logo] / THE VEGA CO. BOSTON, MASS.U.S.A.
Branded on neck block and brace above soundhole: PAT. NOV 4 1913 / THE VEGA CO
Branded on neck block and brace above soundhole: PAT. NOV 4 1913 / THE VEGA CO
MarkingsStamped into top of head: 377 44
DescriptionStringing: eight steel strings
Soundboard: one-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain
Back: one-piece mahogany with pressed longitudinal arching
Ribs: four-piece mahogany
Head: mahogany veneered with rosewood on face; integral with neck
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Heel cap: none; integral with back
Binding: ivoroid; trim on top comprised of five-ply alternating light and black hardwood strips
Fretboard: ebony; 21 nickel-silver frets under top three strings; 20 nickel-silver frets under lowest string; mother-of-pearl dots behind 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: ebony
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass string holder with scalloped cover; attached with three blued steel domed, slot-head screws into lower rib and block
Tuners: two pairs of worm-gear tuners with floral-embossed, nickel-plated steel plates, nickel-plated steel rollers and ivoroid heads
Rosette: oval soundhole bound with ivoroid; rosette comprised of light and black hardwood herringbone inlay surrounded on each side by red and black hardwood checkerboard inlay
Pick guard: imitation-tortoise-shell celluloid with festooned inner and lower edges
Lacquer: golden with craquelure
Linings: kerfed light hardwood
Neck block: mahogany
End block: mahogany with beveled edges
Top bracing: four lateral spruce braces with dramatically tapered ends, one above soundhole, three below soundhole; spruce graft along center joint
Back bracing: three lateral spruce braces with tapered ends, one opposite soundhole, two in lower bouts
Soundboard: one-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain
Back: one-piece mahogany with pressed longitudinal arching
Ribs: four-piece mahogany
Head: mahogany veneered with rosewood on face; integral with neck
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Heel cap: none; integral with back
Binding: ivoroid; trim on top comprised of five-ply alternating light and black hardwood strips
Fretboard: ebony; 21 nickel-silver frets under top three strings; 20 nickel-silver frets under lowest string; mother-of-pearl dots behind 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: ebony
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass string holder with scalloped cover; attached with three blued steel domed, slot-head screws into lower rib and block
Tuners: two pairs of worm-gear tuners with floral-embossed, nickel-plated steel plates, nickel-plated steel rollers and ivoroid heads
Rosette: oval soundhole bound with ivoroid; rosette comprised of light and black hardwood herringbone inlay surrounded on each side by red and black hardwood checkerboard inlay
Pick guard: imitation-tortoise-shell celluloid with festooned inner and lower edges
Lacquer: golden with craquelure
Linings: kerfed light hardwood
Neck block: mahogany
End block: mahogany with beveled edges
Top bracing: four lateral spruce braces with dramatically tapered ends, one above soundhole, three below soundhole; spruce graft along center joint
Back bracing: three lateral spruce braces with tapered ends, one opposite soundhole, two in lower bouts
DimensionsTotal mandocello length: 987 mm (38-29/32″)
Back length: 509 mm (20-1/32″)
Upper bout width: 191 mm (7-1/2″)
Center bout width: 183 mm (7-7/32″)
Lower bout width: 363 mm (14-9/32″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 71 mm (2-13/16″)
Rib height, at lower bout: 59 mm (2-11/32″)
Rib height, at bottom: 83 mm (3-9/32″)
Head length: 164 mm (6-15/32″)
Head width, top: 78 mm (3-3/32″)
Head width, bottom: 65 mm (2-9/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 329 mm (12-31/32″)
Neck width, nut: 39 mm (1-17/32″)
Neck width, heel: 52 mm (2-1/16″)
Soundhole height: 61 mm (2-13/32″)
Soundhole width: 89 mm (3-1/2″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 660 mm (26″)
Back length: 509 mm (20-1/32″)
Upper bout width: 191 mm (7-1/2″)
Center bout width: 183 mm (7-7/32″)
Lower bout width: 363 mm (14-9/32″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 71 mm (2-13/16″)
Rib height, at lower bout: 59 mm (2-11/32″)
Rib height, at bottom: 83 mm (3-9/32″)
Head length: 164 mm (6-15/32″)
Head width, top: 78 mm (3-3/32″)
Head width, bottom: 65 mm (2-9/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 329 mm (12-31/32″)
Neck width, nut: 39 mm (1-17/32″)
Neck width, heel: 52 mm (2-1/16″)
Soundhole height: 61 mm (2-13/32″)
Soundhole width: 89 mm (3-1/2″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 660 mm (26″)
Terms
Credit Line: Eddie Peabody Collection. Gift of George Peabody, 2012
Not on view
Published ReferencesAppears in the film short Hula Heaven, 1937.
Anthony Lis, “The Peabody Instruments,” B. M. G. No. 868, Winter 2012, pp. 100-101.
Anthony Lis, “The Peabody Instruments,” B. M. G. No. 868, Winter 2012, pp. 100-101.
Object number: 14654