1895 Angara & D'Isanto (Allievi Di Vinaccia)

[Tavy]

Just got this old lady playing again:

[brunello97]

Very nice, John, as usual. This is another maker who I have kept my eye on so it is good to hear your work with it.

I checked your AD on the Classifieds and was saddened to see the note about the CITES restrictions. But I can understand your (or anyone's) reluctance to wade into those waters.

I hope it doesn't cut into your work. Not sure how many mandolins you send over this way relative to your work in the UK or EU. You've spent considerable time building your rep as the man for the restoration / refurbishment of these beautiful old instruments. I'm saddened that we are going be separated from your quality of craft.

Maybe, hopefully in time the CITES enforcement / paperwork will get streamlined and easier to process and thus more in reach for the smaller scale operations such as yours. But scale and quality in this case are disconnected here which is a further downside of how the CITES enforcement appears to be playing out.

I am especially glad that I was able to get the DeMeglio from you this fall. After your work on it, it looks, feels and plays like a brand-new mandolin. I love playing it and enjoy it even more since it came from you, bro. Hopefully, one day again soon.

In the meanwhile, I hope the I e D'I heads to a good home.

Mick

[vic-victor]

So much fuss about CITES restrictions, but has anyone actually ever encountered any problems because of that? I do send and get old mandolins to and from other countries, they made of rosewood and other stuff usual for old bowlbacks and I have never ever had any issues because of CITES. I once had one refused to be accepted by Australian quaranteen authority as being packed in an old box previously used for apples though.

[Tavy]

So much fuss about CITES restrictions, but has anyone actually ever encountered any problems because of that? I do send and get old mandolins to and from other countries, they made of rosewood and other stuff usual for old bowlbacks and I have never ever had any issues because of CITES. I once had one refused to be accepted by Australian quaranteen authority as being packed in an old box previously used for apples though.

We need to wait and see how the new regulations are interpreted in practice - note that they are changing from Jan 2nd - previously only Brazillian was listed, now all rosewoods plus bubinga are listed. The exemption for finished goods is also being removed - so previously finished mandolins were no problem, it was just wood that was an issue, now in theory anything that looks like it might contain rosewood can be seized.

[vic-victor]

Only theoretically, John. I've never heard from anyone here on the cafe or through my personal connections that any musical instrument was seized because of CITES restrictions. Raw woods - perhaps. There was also story of a lady caught importing TS pics. That seems to be it.

[Tavy]

Only theoretically, John. I've never heard from anyone here on the cafe or through my personal connections that any musical instrument was seized because of CITES restrictions. Raw woods - perhaps. There was also story of a lady caught importing TS pics. That seems to be it.

Not so sure any more - as I said the rules have changed very significantly post Jan 2nd.

[vic-victor]

I, personally, think that customs have more important things to do than chasing musical instruments in spite of the changes, but the only way to know for sure is to wait and see.

[Scot63]

Gosh, really nice tone on that—quite full sounding.

[fumblefour]

Well it looks and sounds irresistible. In fact it was - so I have bought it! Hoping for delivery sometime next week (up in the Scottish Highlands delivery can take a wee while longer). I am a raw beginner, just 3 months into the Catherine Lichtenberg Classical Mandolin Artistworks course, so I won't be posting any fine playing anytime soon, but I will report back in due course. Now...how do I explain to my better (saner) half that I NEEDED a bowlback just a couple of months after buying an Eastman 404? Any medical practioners on the forum who will certify MAS as a notifiable disease?

[brunello97]

Good move with the Angara e D'Isanto, mate. Now you can sell the Eastman.

Mick

[fumblefour]

Good move with the Angara e D'Isanto, mate. Now you can sell the Eastman.

Mick

Errr...is that a recognised treatment for MAS? Sounds like a doomed approach to me.

[brunello97]

Errr...is that a recognised treatment for MAS? Sounds like a doomed approach to me.

Maybe not. I operated on a catch-and-release plan for years until finding a few mandolins that met my ears and fingers.

if your concerned about your stockpile...keep the bowlback. Once you go bowl, you never go back

Mick

[Randi Gormley]

What a lovely sounding mandolin! congrats to you (both).

[fumblefour]

Thanks Randi. Had it a few days now and delighted with it. Still getting used to how small and light it is, but even in my newbie hands it sounds lovely. And there is something rather moving as I wonder who else has played it over the past 120 years. I am beginning to understand the lure of the Bowlback!

[Tavy]

Thanks Randi. Had it a few days now and delighted with it. Still getting used to how small and light it is, but even in my newbie hands it sounds lovely. And there is something rather moving as I wonder who else has played it over the past 120 years. I am beginning to understand the lure of the Bowlback!

You're doomed, doomed I say!

[brunello97]

....And there is something rather moving as I wonder who else has played it over the past 120 years. I am beginning to understand the lure of the Bowlback!

Sell the Eastman....

Mick