View Full Version : Bowlback J-Pop
Martin Jonas
Sep-14-2004, 6:02am
I'm not sure whether the regulars here have seen this (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=18238) thread over in the General forum. It's about as far from classical music as you can get, but it does feature bowlback mandolins extensively, and in the end even a full mandolin orchestra, mandocellos and all.
Martin
Jim Garber
Sep-14-2004, 10:14am
Interesting... I noted the following but the posters on that thread seem more interested in making Bill Monroe jokes or commenting on the Japanese "babe." #So much for venturing outside this are of the board http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
BTW she plays a Calace Classico A, one of the highest end bowlbacks made by the company. The case is nice also.
I imagine that the orchestra is one of the more prominent Japanese ones that are popular today.
BTW the mandolin in Japan predates bluegrass: it goes back to around 1905 or so.
Even more important: where did she get that case?? Looks like a Calton for a bowlback.
Jim
Martin Jonas
Sep-16-2004, 4:45am
Even more important: where did she get that case?? Looks like a Calton for a bowlback.
I suspect it might come out of the same production as the new Eastman cases for their carved mandolins. As they are Asian-made anyway, the factory may well offer bowlback cases for their Asian markets, even if these aren't imported to the US/Europe. There's a discussion with photos here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=8;t=17618).
Martin
I emailed the Eastman rep about the possibility of making bowlback cases. He'll pass on the suggestion, but thought that the market would not be large enough to absorb the necessary numbers. (I suspect he'd be wrong about that. But the market might not go for non-traditional cases, I suppose).
Jim Garber
Sep-16-2004, 8:38am
Bob:
Mention to the Eastman rep that for every bowlback case they should include a video of Kiyomi. That should boost sales, eh?
Could be a run on bowlbacks if she breaks into the pop scene. Every mall will have a mandolin outlet selling bowlbacks and Raffaele Calace tee shirts...
Hey, I can dream eh?
Jim