My first Bowlback

[Wayne Bagley]

https://youtube.com/shorts/mriXAPESvxs

Amada bowl back mandolin from the Czech Republic. #0556. 50’s era.

I know that this is not a high end unit and the 50's era is not too old but it is about the only one that I could find that was not in deplorable condition.

We all have to start somewhere and I am pleased to have a mandolin in this form factor.

Certainly takes some getting used to.

[Bob A]

My first bowlback was Czech as well; bought in 1965, new, from a pawnshop for $39. It had brass frets which I wore out in about a year, and I was told it would be a lot cheaper to buy a new one than to refret it. I really enjoyed that mandolin. (I think it might have had a zero fret, but I don't actually remember).

[Wayne Bagley]

Mine has an extra fret at the nut. I have never seen that before and frankly I was baffled about it. I assume that is what you are talking about when you said zero fret??? I certainly have never heard about this until now.
I don’t understand why that was designed like that. I would appreciate input on the subject.

[Richard500]

The zero fret is found more often in Europe. It avoids the very delicate job of shaping the nut slots to a few thousandths of an inch, and friction issues that are related that make sticky tuning. That is, the vibrating part of the strings ends right at the fret. The fret, easy to adjust when setting up initially, and durable, makes sense, but tradition seems to favor not using it. There also are various beliefs about nut acoustic properties, materials etc. Not as rich as lore about strings, picks, and varnish, but enough to discuss at length.

[brunello97]

I have a few Italian bowlbacks with a combination brass nut / string spacer and zero fret.

The assumed wisdom is that with a zero fret that open strings would sound more the same as fretted ones.

On my DeMeglio, Ceccherini and Vinaccia bowls, I would agree that they do.

Mick

[Richard500]

I have a few Italian bowlbacks with a combination brass nut / string spacer and zero fret.

The assumed wisdom is that with a zero fret that open strings would sound more the same as fretted ones.

On my DeMeglio, Ceccherini and Vinaccia bowls, I would agree that they do.

Mick

That combined item is interesting. I was checking my veracity before commenting, and found a video explaining a ‘new’ similar product for guitars, which simplifies converting from nut to zero fret. The claim was that the zero was catching on in (quality) guitar construction after years of being identified with low cost instruments. A combined piece of hardware would just be a drop-in instead of carpentry.