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Thread: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mandolin

  1. #1
    Certified! Bernie Daniel's Avatar
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    Default Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mandolin

    Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mandolin That just happens to be missing its original label (like all of his other offerings on eBay -- LOL)

    Imagine that.

    OTOH who thinks that it looks like it might actually be worth $600 USD
    Bernie
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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    Hmmm...I don't ever recall seeing edge and soundhole inlays in the shape of Goldfish snack crackers on antique Italian bowlbacks before. But this is not my area of expertise.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    Please note. Due to the estimated tool might slightly different. The estimated result will have reasonable errors.” ....... Really!

  4. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    Actually I have seen some of these taisamlu and other similar seller's listings of what once possibly were Italian or other vintage bowlbacks but were reworked so they look new. Anything really is possible.
    Jim

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    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    I think it might be from east Italy. Jakarta, or Beijing east Italy.
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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    He mentions that he has sold more than 1,000 instruments in Taiwan. Very likely, that's because they were made in Taiwan.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    They have done refurbishment on older instruments— I have seen quite a few— not that you would agree to their approaches but there may be some truth that at least some part of this mandolin was made in Italy though this one certainly was stripped and refinished and other crucial parts may have been replaced. I am guessing that they may have at times bought basket case instruments and replaced parts. This may be the case with this one. At least they didn’t inlay a dragon into the top.
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    I believe this is one of the usual Taiwanese sellers selling stuff that was built or modified in Vietnam.
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    Here is a Taiwan refurbished Puglisi: https://www.ebay.com/itm/394067874325
    and check out their other offerings. They have other older Italian mandolins as well.

    The original label is covered on this one from Catania:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/384859852760
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  14. #10

    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    C'mon Bernie... he has his own luthier. It must be legit.
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    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who thinks this is really an refurbished antique Italian mand

    From the tuners and the overall design of the mandolin, I do think this was originally of Italian, or more precisely Sicilian, origin.

    The amount of bling is very restrained as compated to the made-in-Vietnam, or made-in-Taiwan bowlbacks we see here.

    The eggshell / no buff overspray is also something we've seen.

    The double layer of top banding says Sicilia to me.

    The Catanese makers didn't go for the veneered neck and often used one piece neck and headstock without a join there.

    This might actually be a pretty okay mandolin. $600 + $175 shipping isn't cheap, but it looks to be in very playable shape.

    At half that price, I might take a ringer.

    Mick
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