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Thanks for the photos. Very nice looking mandolin, and I certainly enjoy maple bowls...

The action looks to be in quite playable condition.

The thickness of the new fretboard makes me wonder...

We can safely narrow this down to Sicily.

Mick

I’ll second Bob’s recommendation for the Calace Dolces. I use them on my bowlbacks and flatbacks.

And even have a set of the Medios on my Gibson now. (David is probably rolling his eyes…��)
...

I agree with Nick.

This is certainly pre-war, and certainly not 'factory made' but likely from a small(ish) shop that produced a lot of MOR mandolins for export to England, France, Germany etc and...

Thanks, David, Martin, Simon, Dagger...and I'm sure I'm forgetting someone..

It seems we're once again converging on some of the same great music.

I think I've let on that I've been slipsliding...

John, I was following (or trying to follow) this discussion in another thread where some research papers were testing the sound characteristics of a bowlback.
You've summarized the summaries nicely....

A few nice nuggets of information from the site Mike linked to, filling in a bit more on the 20s scene in Chicago, particularly JR Stewart:

"The Le Domino model was the brainchild of James R....

Well, you could swap out the light gauge strings for some heavier ones and watch your Washburn implode on you while you're fiddling with your strap attachment.

Mick

Thanks, John and Bren...great tales.

I love this: "....They are unlocked and are open to anyone seeking shelter while walking or climbing in the Scottish mountains."
And the shared ethos of...

Thank you, John, for the music and video.

And now I know what a bothy is. True delights for the architect in me.

Mick

Thanks!

I dig the Waldo, front and center.

Mick

I've got a half dozen or more of these "Leland" model flatbacks with a few different labels, including one from Wurlitzer.

I've long been of the opinion that these were made by Vega.

Others...

Might be time to get a bowlback mandolin to help break your folks out of stereotypes of what a mandolin looks like, sounds like or plays like.

And I'll bet you'll enjoy it yourself!


Mick

Volare, il mio amico.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4IjJav7xbg

Mick

My take on this headstock design is that the Vinaccia (who were early users) appropriated the idea from the common "Broken Pediment" feature in late Classical / Mannerist architecture. ...

Good call.

It may be a fine instrument in its own right.

I think we're just trying to suss out whether it is from some configuration of the Calace's output.

It may well be, but doesn't look...

I'm with John on this....these MOR Italian / Sicilian mandolins can be very nice players...if they are playable...and have a bright "shimmering sound" as our friend, Martin Jonas, so wonderfully put...

Thanks, Joe.

Yeah...I don't know what to say, really. You figure the Dogals are likely designed for bowldolas (and not archtops) but playing it safe is always the best way to go until you have a...

Tony and Joe,

What about the Dogal Calace set for EuroMandola?

Details:

Dogal Calace RW91A Mandola Carbon Steel Round Wound

Round Wound strings for Mandola made in co-operation with...

Beautiful mandolin, Nick, with some very un-L+H details. (eg neck profile, headstock shape, tuners)

What makes you think it comes from them?

Of course...L+H would be a reasonable bet for just...

That back seam crack should be an easy repair.

You can use hide glue if you can get it, (or even Tightbond 1.) Thin it down and work it into the crack and use blue painters' tape to pull the...

Following up on Victor's reference....here's a couple Mozzani boatbacks one with a similar steep curvature from the hull to the prow as seen on the Maccaferri.

Pretty deep cargo holds on these two...

That "boat" has a pretty deep draught....ready for the high C's!

And the neck profile is suitably severe.

The unlabeled boatback I have (dangerously replete with "Larson-oid" details) also has...

Nick!

There's a "Bowlbacks of Note" thread.

Why start a new thread instead of contributing to the one of the longest ongoing threads here with more information about bowlback mandolins than...

Nick!

There's an ongoing Harwood thread here full of lots and lots of instruments and information.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/38906-Harwood-mandolins-and-guitars

Why not add...