Re: Opinion on Bowlbacks
Miss Savannah, if the mandolin you are looking at is 'basically identical' with the one you posted at Gruhn, then it is hard to see how you could go wrong. That is a fine instrument, notable for the overall quality of the wood, the care and precision of the detailing, the number of ribs making up the bowl and the engraving on the tailpiece.
I'm not sure where concerns like 'the instrument falling apart' may come from. Bowlback instruments were made lighter so to be more sonically responsive to the strings. (But they do require that you use much lighter strings than larger, heftier mandolins.) I prefer to refer to these as Neapolitan mandolins as it reflects their (generalized) origin and cultural heritage, which is present when you play one as Jeff nicely describes in his post. "Bowlback" just refers to their shape, which somehow seems so much less inspirational.
The instrument at Gruhn is at least 100 years old. It doesn't look ready to fall apart any time soon. If that mandolin is played with care and stored in a case it will certainly be around making music in another 100 years. The same with yours. If you get it, invest in a case, be sure to use extra lightweight strings and treat it as you would any special musical instrument. It will be fine. As much misinformation has been spread about these mandolins as any other topic discussed here. Makes no sense to me.
I'm with Tim. Carolan sounds great on a Neapolitan mandolin.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
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