Bowlbacks of Note

**Jim Garber** · Nov-09-2006, 11:43pm

Yeah, I did my best but there were some heavy hitters on it from the collector's scene. I know most of the folks bidding. I think that that one was smaller than piccolo and prob tuned an octave above a mandolin. The overall length was, as I recall, 12.5" so the scale might have been something like 7" or 8".

Jim

**chey47** · Nov-10-2006, 2:01pm

What is a good price for a Martin Style 5 Mandolin in good condition?

Thanks Joe

**Jim Garber** · Nov-10-2006, 2:59pm

Originally Posted by (chey47 @ Nov. 10 2006, 14:01)

What is a good price for a Martin Style 5 Mandolin in good condition?

You mean like this one?

Bear in mind that I am the owner of a style 6 Martin... and I am in awe of it in some ways.

However, as far as a playing instrument, I think you can do just as well with a plainer model, Martin, Vega, Washburn (or a host a Italian instruments and a fraction of the cost). Of course, if you have the buck to burn for such a thing and it gets you going, why not. They are prime examples of incredible artistry and workmanship. OTOH you are paying for all that without any increase in tone or playability, necessarily.

Just my dos centavos...

In a more direct answer to your question: VG Guide (published earlier this year) says about $2000-2400 for a style 5. YMMV.

Jim

**Bob A** · Nov-10-2006, 7:08pm

Or perhaps this one?

I concur with Jim; while I have a few over-the-top bowlbacks, the problems associated with tiny bits of inlay and generally delicate doodads make me reluctant to play them much. And for the most part, they are not superior as musical instruments, however much they may be visually provocative. (Let us not get into exactly what it is they provoke; tastes vary with the time and the company.)

**guitharsis** · Nov-10-2006, 7:38pm

What Jim and Bob said.

I do prefer to play my A styles (Kevin Mathers, Oldtime Mandolins or Eastman 604) but there is something so intriguing about bowlbacks.

Did see the one at Bernunzio's when I was in the store today. Very nice. The one at Elderly's in Bob's post looks to be in excellent condition, even the case!

**chey47** · Nov-10-2006, 9:55pm

Well I am much more interested in tone and playability than looks, any suggestions if I am willing to spend about 2,000?

**chey47** · Nov-10-2006, 9:57pm

Forgot to mention I had a Washburn Bowlback and I want something much better, I definitely want to put my money towards tone and playability.

**Bob A** · Nov-10-2006, 10:07pm

Depends on how you want to go. New? Used? Vintage Italian?

At that level, you have to think along the same lines as if you were spending, oh, 5-10 times as much on a US F5. In other words, that's a lot of money for a bowlback. At that level, you should be refining your sight picture toward a particular maker, by reason of having experienced a number of different instruments, and have an idea of just what you want.

You could get a new Calace or Pandini (I think Pandini is closer to 3k now that the dollar is sucking mud). You might luck into a low-end Embergher. You could get a nice Martin, or a Vega Pettine (if you could find one). You could get 3-4 midlevel Italian instruments from the turn of the century. Ceccherini, Salsedo, De Meglio, etc. It sort of depends on what you find that you prefer.

You could also go toward a Lyon & Healy carved-top; a style B or C should be approachable, and they're very fine instruments. Don't be put off by the fact that they aren't the top of the line - they sound and play just as well as the style A, they just don't have the same level of trim.

If you are anywhere near Washington DC you are welcome to slide by and play with my instruments. I have several, and you might get an idea of which way you'd like to proceed. Or you could spend some money on shipping, and have a few dealers send you stuff on approval. This usually involves buying the instrument; then you have a trial period of a day or two to decide whether to keep it.

**Martin Jonas** · Nov-11-2006, 9:11am

Rare on this side of the Atlantic: a higher-end Washburn.

Martin

**guitharsis** · Nov-12-2006, 8:52pm

Nice Washburn!

I was high bidder on a DeMeglio #280044321090

Another DeMeglio, #330045637641, sold for 110GBP, $200 more and wasn't in anywhere as good condition. #It did include a couple of books though

Haven't purchased a vintage bowlback mandolin over a year, since September '05, and this week acquired two more.

**Jim Garber** · Nov-12-2006, 10:37pm

Wow, Doreen, you are quickly getting to our level of insanity

Congratulations! How many Demeglios do you have now, or was your first Italian mandolin a Ceccherini -- I can't recall?

BTW the reason your sold for less was that yours was a "Vincerro de Meglio" and the other, more pricey one was a "de Melio". Also, yours was missing one string and this other was missing 5.

**guitharsis** · Nov-13-2006, 5:52am

Thanks, Jim. Yes, I've crossed the line . . .

Now, I have two DeMeglios. My first bowlback was a pretty, rather ornate Stridente ordered from Pamela's, UK, in October 2004. Since then, besides the DeMeglios, I've acquired a Ceccherini, a Marcelli (German) and the Ciani.

As a way of paying it back for the first bowlback I won the money for at a raffle, I donated the Marcelli, which was a very nice mando with an equally nice case, to an auction to raise funds for my high school class' next reunion. The person who purchased it, a guitar playing attorney, is now taking mandolin lessons and loves it.

**Martin Jonas** · Nov-13-2006, 6:26am

Nice one, Doreen. It's this one, isn't it (I think the Ebay number in your post had an extraneous digit in it)? Looks to be in fine condition, and that's a decent price for it. More frets, too, than most of them. I strongly suspect that the "crack" at the headstock/neck joint is no such thing but rather the normal transition from veneered neck to stained headstock. The first time I saw one of these, I thought there was a crack, too. Good to see the tailpiece cover present, although it's upside down and pushed under the strings. Looks like the "anchor" part that attaches to the tailpiece pegs is either missing or bent. But that's trivial: this one looks in unusually good condition, really.

There've been a lot of de Meglios on Ebay UK lately, with a wide range of conditions and a wide range of winning bids. As usual, no correlation between the former and the latter...

Martin

**guitharsis** · Nov-13-2006, 6:50am

Martin,
Thanks! Yes that's the one. Thanks too for the info. Didn't realize it had extra frets. I was hoping that the the "crack" at the headstock/neck joint was insignificant and it probably is just what you say it is. Interesting about the tailpiece cover

It is good to see one though. When I receive the deMeglio, I'll bring it in to the luthier who has worked on my others for string change (Lenzner) cleaning, checking for cracks etc. I'll also bring your post. It may claify some things for him. Thanks again. Doreen

**Bob A** · Nov-15-2006, 8:06pm

Ain't nobody here innarested in <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-1904-MARTIN-BOWL-BACK-MANDOLIN-with-CASE_W0QQitemZ200047689240QQihZ010QQcategoryZ1

0179QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">this Martin bowlback?</a>

Three+ days to run, no bids, they're asking $250.

**Jim Garber** · Nov-15-2006, 8:59pm

Go for it Bob... that Martin does look pretty nice. Maybe a good one for chey47?

Jim

**brunello97** · Nov-15-2006, 9:17pm

Ever since Eugene put a jinx on the price of Martin bowlbacks the prices have skyrocketed :~)

Makes me want to put mine up on the market.

Now this one sits here tempting us (and fate.)

Mick

**Eugene** · Nov-15-2006, 10:45pm

Sorry, Mick.

**Bob A** · Nov-15-2006, 11:32pm

Not for me, thanks, but it could be a steal for someone who needs a good bowlback.

**Martin Jonas** · Nov-19-2006, 1:49pm

Another Ceccherini, from the same seller as the best of my three. This one seems in good condition, but is more worn than mine. Pity the bridge is non-original -- it spoils the asthetic somewhat and may be inferior in function, too, although at least it seems to be a bowlback-appropriate bridge and seems to have been well-fitted. This is the first time I've seen an inlaid fretboard finial like this, and I'm not sure I like it.

Overall, very similar to mine, though, and should make a good instrument.

Martin

**brunello97** · Nov-19-2006, 2:17pm

Yes, I was eyeballing that one myself. Hmm, maybe I'll have to sell a Martin to raise the $$$.

Bob's bid up to $431 without hitting the reserve.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....=1&rd=1

Now if the kids would just be satisfied with an orange and some coal in their Christmas stockings.....

Mick

**Jim Garber** · Nov-19-2006, 3:26pm

Here's another Martin Style O with a side pickguard.

Jim

**Martin Jonas** · Nov-20-2006, 8:02am

I think this 1919 de Meglio is the youngest one I've ever seen.

Not many American bowls in the UK, so this plain one is unusual here. Never heard of the maker, "Frank Jones, Walbridge, Orange, NJ".

This Loveri looks very clean indeed, and I wonder if the top has been sanded down.

Martin

**guitharsis** · Nov-20-2006, 9:14am

Interesting deMeglio. My new/old deMeglio was made in 1903. The other one I have 1897! Both are 1A's, have the same woods, tuners, very similar scratch plate. The 1903 has a much larger label and an additional metal piece on the headstock, a different shaped neck and is a bit heavier than the other. Also has the original bridge (with brass insert). It will be interesting to see if they differ much in sound once in is cleaned, repaired (cracks on top) and restrung with Lenzners.

Really like the Loveri. Agree with you on the Ceccherini, Martin.