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Thread: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

  1. #1

    Default Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    Useless photos I am afraid. The case with the stitching in the lid is European- most likely German and the mandolin may be as well.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/13423777473...emCondition=10

    Here is the front- there is a photo of the bowl which a many ribs- just two photos in total.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    The seller does say, “not in playable condition.” You can also ask for additional photos if you (or anyone else) are truly interested.
    Jim

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  3. #3
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    Quote Originally Posted by NickR View Post
    Useless photos I am afraid. The case with the stitching in the lid is European- most likely German and the mandolin may be as well.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/13423777473...emCondition=10

    Here is the front- there is a photo of the bowl which a many ribs- just two photos in total.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    If I had to guess, I wouldn't guess Catania / Sicilia.

    Given the fretboard inlay and goofy scratchplate and smoking-gun tailpiece, I think your Centro-Europe proposition is more than likely correct.
    Headstock, too.

    While Catanese mandolins are exuberant in their design, this one appears kind of clunky to my eye.

    The non-oval soundhole oval is a bit brutish.

    I don't think this would pass muster down south.

    Mick
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  5. #4

    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    Google Lens found this labelled E. DeCristofaro, Naples that also has an ameboid scratchplate and similar armrest. Short-lived fad, maybe copied from bouzoukis of the era?
    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #5
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard500 View Post
    Google Lens found this labelled E. DeCristofaro, Naples that also has an ameboid scratchplate and similar armrest. Short-lived fad, maybe copied from bouzoukis of the era?
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Thanks for including this.

    I own a Cristofaro bowlback, much less ornate than this but with the decidedly bass biased soundhole.

    Calace was also experimenting with soundhole shape and location at around the same time.

    The bass response on my Cristofaro is molto profondo.

    Deeper and richer than all the many other Italian bowls I have played.

    I'm not in a position to compare mele a mele with this soundhole design between two of the same mandolins with and without this feature.

    As stylish as it is, I don't think style was the only intention with these or the Calace alt-soundholes.

    Certainly the fretboard extension plays some role in the overall design complex in the area, but we've seen that more commonly as an extension across an oval soundhole with air space to either side, and sometimes a supporting brace underneath.

    Not sure what counts as a "short lived fad" but it looks like Calace at least was experimenting with the idea for at least 20 years.

    My Cristofaro lacks a date on the label, as do the others I have in my files.
    The last attachment, another Cristofaro has a pretty extreme bassward bias to the soundhole.


    Mick
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  9. #6

    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    He has posted more photos and mentions it being unplayable but from a quick glance it looks as thought it might play. It now has bids and it is quite an eyeful!

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/13425960653...emCondition=10

  10. #7

    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    Here are the photos:

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  12. #8

    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    The bowl is clearly Calace 900 model inspired. The mandolin is either Catanese or German. The photos back of a headstock/neck joint and whether there is a zero fret might help to elaborate further.

  13. #9

    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    You can see the whole board and headstock/neck area at the auction on the first two less than good photos. I don't think it has a zero fret but cannot be sure. I mentioned that the case is German and I think it is more likely to be central European- Saxony, or just over the border in Bohemia as its place of origin. Just the one bidder- $110 which may be a bargain but it might not be!

  14. #10

    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    I had a closer look. The tailpiece is German, likely by "Cid" - Schuster Bros. The whole mandolin can actually be made by them. I also inclined more to German origin, though the neck/headstock joint is non typical German. Unsold at $120.00 Can be a good buy at that price.

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  16. #11
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    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    I saw pretty much this same model on German eBay a few years back for like 200-300 euros, but it was optically in better condition. It still had the wooden bottom part that's missing from the one shown here. Had concerns about the action / playability of it though, so I decided against buying it.
    Then some time later I saw one in worse condition without an inlayed fretboard (possibly replaced).
    So these mandolins have existed in Germany at some point in time. Yet a lot of Italian mandolins have been imported to Germany in the early 1900s.
    The headstock to me has some resemblance to Roman mandolins. The tailpiece is also somewhat embergher-esque but this type of tailpiece might have been ubiquitous all around Europe.

    Definitely a beautiful mandolin nonetheless.
    Eastman MD-315, Eastman MDO-305, Kentucky KM-150, Calace 1917, Gibson A ~ 1920, Johnson resonator mando

  17. #12

    Default Re: Catania Creation? Very colourful.

    I think the mandolin is German- or from just across the border in Schonbach. What with the hard case included, I think it was a good buy assuming there is nothing really seriously wrong with it.

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