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Thread: Casini 12 string bowl back

  1. #1

    Default Casini 12 string bowl back

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/25592244333...Bk9SR86p1JO0YQ

    I assume that S. Cassini is probably the maker- I don't know. You would need to be quite brave to take this on as there is no real way of knowing what is wrong- there is that chunk missing by the board at the top of the body but as it has no strings other indicators are not available. I don't know if the Florence mark is a dealer or maker but it certainly is interesting- Florence is in Tuscany, not Lombardy as the seller suggests. I don't think it is up to "bowl backs of note" but it is very impressive in some ways. The bridge reminds me of some Catania guitars.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Casini 12 string bowl back

    Does look like 6 doubles, and doesn’t give dimensions, so not certain it is a mandolin.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Casini 12 string bowl back

    I was wondering about its designation as it looks like this- but with 12 strings.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/13440646736...7492%7Ciid%3A1

  4. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casini 12 string bowl back

    My 1896 Serafina Casini Lombard mandolino has 6 strings. There are other regional mandolins, for instance the single strung Brescian ones and these which are sort of reissues of baroque mandolins also called mandolini or mandolinos in English. I will post pics of mine but I am not surprised he made double strung ones.
    Jim

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  5. #5

    Default Re: Casini 12 string bowl back

    Jim, that's very interesting and sheds real light on the instrument and the regional variations. So, Serafino Casini was based in Florence as per the mark, which makes sense. I hope there's someone out there that can restore it.

  6. #6
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casini 12 string bowl back

    Here is an old thread with some info:

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...ing-Lombardian

    And here is an old post with my Casini Lombardi mandolino:

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...=1#post1738797

    I had this worked on my a lute guy (hence tru meaning of luthier) many years ago and I had it strung with gut strings to the original tuning which is sort of in fourths and thirds. The had Aquila make me a custom set too tune it hopefully one octave above a guitar. I see yet to fool around with it though, there is only so much time in the day.
    Jim

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  8. #7

    Default Re: Casini 12 string bowl back

    Thank you Jim- all very interesting and a reminder of the regional variations and history of the instrument.

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