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Thread: Information on this Bowlback

  1. #1

    Default Information on this Bowlback

    Looking to get some information on this bowlback mandolin. I has no stamp or label indicating who made it, only "7529" stamped onto the headstock.

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    Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Apr-13-2021 at 7:57am.

  2. #2
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on this Bowlback

    The OS logo on your mandolin's scratchplate indicates it was made by the Oscar Schmidt company of New Jersey.

    There's been quite a bit of discussion here about Schmidt mandolins. You could do a search here for discussions here involving Oscar Schmidt serial numbers...there likely has been.

    A lot of information available on the OS folks on the internet as well.

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  4. #3
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    Default Re: Information on this Bowlback

    Quote Originally Posted by brunello97 View Post
    The OS logo on your mandolin's scratchplate ....
    ... is the middle of that ornately-woven inlay. Don't feel too bad that, as for many, it wasn't readily apparent at first look.

    What is the scale length, the vibrating portion of the string from bridge to nut? Usual mandolin is around 13 7/8", but the photos, at least to me, make it look smaller than that.

    BTW: Four courses of three strings, rather than pairs, would technically make it a "mandriola", not that it makes a difference.
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  5. #4
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on this Bowlback

    You have what's called a "mandriola," which has four triple-string courses, rather than the double-string courses of a standard mandolin. Oscar Schmidt made a bunch of them, pretty unique among American makers. Some string all three strings of a course in unison, others put one or more higher octave strings in the 3rd and 4th courses.

    Mandriolas aren't common, and because they're a bit more clumsy to play and perhaps somewhat less agile as melody instruments, they don't draw the market interest that standard 8-string mandolins of comparable construction and quality do. Perhaps a few hundred dollars, if they're in good playable condition.

    You haven't mentioned in your various postings (which, by the way, could have been combined into one "what's each of these?" thread) which of the mandolins have cases, and what type the cases are. This can have significant bearing on their market value.
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  6. #5

    Default Re: Information on this Bowlback

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    You have what's called a "mandriola," which has four triple-string courses, rather than the double-string courses of a standard mandolin. Oscar Schmidt made a bunch of them, pretty unique among American makers. Some string all three strings of a course in unison, others put one or more higher octave strings in the 3rd and 4th courses.

    Mandriolas aren't common, and because they're a bit more clumsy to play and perhaps somewhat less agile as melody instruments, they don't draw the market interest that standard 8-string mandolins of comparable construction and quality do. Perhaps a few hundred dollars, if they're in good playable condition.

    You haven't mentioned in your various postings (which, by the way, could have been combined into one "what's each of these?" thread) which of the mandolins have cases, and what type the cases are. This can have significant bearing on their market value.
    Yes I agree they could have been all in one thread but with 8 instruments to get info on, it might have become a bit confusing 😉

    As for the cases...these bowlback ones have newer plastic hard cases...

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