Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Full Version)

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Jeff H -> Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 3 2017 19:13:35)

Has any body heard from Charles Vega. ?


Lost contact 2 years ago when he sold his house in Baltimore.
Fine guitar builder, flamenco guitar player and guitar historian.

Would like to contact him.

He used to post here on the Foro frequently.




jshelton5040 -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 3 2017 23:19:17)

I miss Charles as well, always enjoyed his posts.




estebanana -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 4 2017 1:02:22)

His last post was 2015- I have his email somewhere, but you can go to that last post and send an email from there.
www.foroflamenco.com/showprofile.asp?memId=105




eccullen -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 4 2017 3:36:26)

I seem to recall that he may have gone to work for German Vasquez Rubio...




Jeff H -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 4 2017 19:57:33)

That's interesting considering Charles told me he was
going to quit building because of COPD.

He built a negra with pegs for me.. unfortunately I enjoyed a
prolonged and serious illness and was forced to sell... could not play.
Very fine guitar.. flawless and excellent playability and tone. I believe
it to be one of his last, if not last built in his Baltimore shop. I do know
he had switched to violin family instrument set up and repair.

Thanks for the suggestion to check for his e-mail.
I'll try to contact him.

His last post and login here was in Jan 2015.
It shows his e-mail address to be "hidden"




Jeff H -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 4 2017 20:07:03)

A piece written by Charles Vega for La Falseta

http://www.lafalseta.com/The_Flamenco_Guitar.html


One other thought..
If Charles did go to work for Rubio.. it might be possible he is in Paracho, Mexico.

Charles speaks Spanish.




estebanana -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 4 2017 23:17:43)

Last I heard he was not building. Brune' has contact info in last resort.




Jeff H -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 5 2017 2:33:33)

Thanks Stephen..
He was also friends with Petros.. that's another possibility for a contact.




JasonM -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 6 2017 1:06:18)

He passed away about ~3 years ago. I found this out from a friend of his here (Baltimore) that runs a well known classical guitar shop called Kirkpatrick guitar studio. I think I remember him saying that he went downhill pretty fast. Kirkpatrick has all of Vega's Luthier woods and a couple of his flamencos, one was a Ramirez for sale. I tried to reach out to Vega to pick his brain on building but he didn't wasn't interested. Maybe because he was sick.




Jeff H -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 6 2017 19:46:10)

Thanks for the update.

Charles , aside from COPD, had an extremely advanced case of Crohns disease, that
plagued him for many years.

I'll see if I can confirm the info.




Jeff H -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 6 2017 20:07:31)

Confirmed. I called Mike at Kirkpatricks.
Charles passed away around May/June of 2015.

RIP Charles (Carlos) Francsico Vega




Escribano -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 6 2017 21:15:04)

quote:

Charles passed away around May/June of 2015.


D.E.P. Carlos




Jeff H -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 7 2017 14:10:30)

Charles was a well educated man
Played brass instruments such as the Euphoneon (sp) and was in a few brass bands.
Was a machinist making prototype medical equipment for Johns Hopkins University
Was a fine classical and flamenco guitar player
A superb classical and flamenco guitar maker
Violin family technician
Author on classical and flamenco guitar
Guitar historian
A frequent visitor to Spain where he befriended many great builders such as Contreras SR,
Amelia Ramirez and often purchased guitar making supplies and shared with his many friends
to include Mike Kirkpatrick, Petros and myself
Collected guitar and violin and bow making literature ( I contributed to his library
with some very rare books)
He also enjoyed fine liquor in modest amounts and loved high quality cigars.
He had a quick wit, incredible sense of humor and was extremely generous.
Charles, along with myself developed "Luthier Tuning Salts " in many colors and flavors : )
Charles was a "star" on a few Guitar Discussion Groups and sadly they are gone as well.
He was also a family man and adored and admired his son. They were close.

We had frequent 2-3 hour phone conversations on subjects ranging from language
origin, to luthier techniques, wood sources, guitar making myths and facts, and a
variety of obscure subjects.

Then one day I called and no answer. Further attempts gave the same results.
No Charles. I had hopes that he had moved to Spain, one of his favorite places.
Sadly not the case. I am sorry I did not pursue this earlier, and very sad to
discover his departure.


He will be missed. Memorable is an appropriate word.

So long Charles.




dartemo1 -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 7 2017 17:49:01)

Charles also was an expert machinist and worked at the Johns Hopkins lab making unique experimental equipment for the Dept. of Chemistry.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1996-10-27/features/1996301138_1_started-playing-guitar-vega-raw-materials
He is definitely missed by many.




Jeff H -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 7 2017 20:49:03)

Charles also made models of buildings and monuments
for various Government entities.

He also enjoyed Spanish wines and Sherries.




Richard Jernigan -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 8 2017 3:02:08)

In case you hadn't noticed, Brune has one of Vega's guitars for sale, with the "Carlos Francisco" label. In photos it is spectacular, with bird's-eye maple back and sides, spruce top.

http://www.rebrune.com/charlesvega/

I don't remember whether Brune had it last time I was at his shop--I don't remember seeing it except in photos, and I'm sure I have never played it, nor heard a recording.

If Brune is selling it, it's a good guitar for the money, at least for somebody.

RNJ




Jeff H -> RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (Sep. 8 2017 13:31:21)

Note the bridge/saddle.. compensated. He did this on the negra he built for me.

And as to the "thin oil finish" ... according to Charles.. he used what he called
"Ace-O-Thane" ... ACE brand varnish right off the shelf from Ace Hardware.
Slightly thinned.

Charles also built one only steel string guitar.. and asked for recommendations
as to specifications from the inmates at the, sadly gone, Acoustic Guitar Magazine
forum.
My contribution was 12 fret, slotted peghead, and ramped slots.. 1 13/16ths nut.
I have actual photos of the resulting guitar. Stunning. And in the same packet from
Charles I have a rosette and bridge made by Charles and a set rosewood
pegs for a flamenco guitar. Perhaps it is time to combine all these with the cypress
backs and sides and "Spanish" cedar neck blank, and a top of unknown species I got
from him.

I haven't built a guitar in some while.. Perhaps it is time. A good project for 2018.




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