Bowlbacks of Note

[Jim Garber]

Is this too far off topic?

Nah, that is fine IMHO. I agree with Schlegel.

[Tavy]

Is this too far off topic?

Nope, looks a lovely instrument to me: can you tell us something about it?

[vkioulaphides]

Having just gotten back from this instrument's birthplace, Crete, I can tell you it is a Greek laouto. Its owner, of course, can say more on this specific instrument. For me, this us just another fantasy ;-)

Cheers,

Victor

[zoukboy]

Victor is correct! It's a Kritiki laouto made in Athens by Dimitris Rapakousios. The bowl is rosewood and mahogany. Spruce top. I tune mine a little eccentrically, with the highest course tuned down from E4 to D4 and doubled an octave lower at D3.

So the tuning is, from "bass" to treble: G2G3 D2D3 A2A3 D3D4

The body is quite deep to support the low tuning. The sound is huge and it is much fun to play.

I can't recommend Dimitris and his instruments highly enough. Absolutely first rate craftsmanship and sound and he is great to work with (NFI by way).

[zoukboy]

Victor - I am jealous you just got back from Kriti. It's been 9 years since I was there and I miss it almost every day!

[zoukboy]

Dimitris also makes mandolins. I'm receiving this one for a student next week and will give a report.

[Jim Garber]

Here is his website: Dimitris Rapakousios

Roger: I am esp interested in custom cases byGiannis Seremetis. Have you seen any of them? Any idea of cost?

[Tavy]

Dimitris also makes mandolins. I'm receiving this one for a student next week and will give a report

Interesting - are those tied on frets?

IMO there aren't enough of them either

[Jim Garber]

For anyone looking for a decent vintage bowlback this style 2 Vega might be a good bet. I have a style 3 that is one of my best sounding ones. If there are any serious issues with this style 2, the seller offers 100% satisfaction guarantee. NFI on my part as always.

[Tavy]

Here's one that's as nutty as a squirrels food store:

[Jim Garber]

Here's one that's as nutty as a squirrels food store

Might be worth the bid if low enough for those bone button tuners. Otherwise...?? I do like the eccentric scratchplate shape, tho.

[zoukboy]

Jim: have seen a few and they are sturdy. No idea of the cost, though.

[zoukboy]

Yes. Black nylon monofilament. It really makes for a sweet sound.

[Jim Garber]

I have only seen a handful of Stathopoulo's bowlback instruments. Here is a bouzouki up for auction. Too bad that rosette is broken. It looks like it may need a some restoration work and the seller says it was over-finished, looks like that included the fretboard. I would not be surprised if the neck either had warpage or needed a reset (or both).

---

I just looked at the post and at the additional photo below and the neck definitely needs a reset -- the seller says height in the middle of the fretboard is 1/4". It also looks like the neck joint might have been messed with previously. This will need considerable work. Then again it is a rare instrument. Many of his often have multi-ply laminated necks but this one looks like one piece.

[Tavy]

I have only seen a handful of Stathopoulo's bowlback instruments. Here is a bouzouki up for auction. Too bad that rosette is broken. It looks like it may need a some restoration work and the seller says it was over-finished, looks like that included the fretboard. I would not be surprised if the neck either had warpage or needed a reset (or both).

With a neck that long on a std bowlback body, I'm not surprised the whole thing has pulled forward!

[Tavy]

Nice looking ceccherini 10 string bowl on ebay UK:

[Tavy]

Same seller (is this the cafe's own trebbleclef??) also has an A Savlino "Student of Vinaccia" bowl for sale:

[brunello97]

Probably a typo in the listing: A Salvino. I always enjoy that 'twisted' MOP inlay design around the sound hole.

Here's a pretty clean photo of a Salvino label.

Mick

[Bruce Clausen]

A nice pair of mandolins. I can't remember ever seeing this English-language label in a Ceccherini. (But the same UK agent we're used to, A. Voigt.) I wonder if it tells us anything about the instrument's date.

[brunello97]

A nice pair of mandolins. I can't remember ever seeing this English-language label in a Ceccherini. (But the same UK agent we're used to, A. Voigt.) I wonder if it tells us anything about the instrument's date.

Bruce, I have a number of Ceccherini mandolins in my files with whole or part English label language. Alban Voigt appears as agent on them as well. Unfortunately, I don't have a clean shot of any of those labels.

Maybe Jim or Martin have better images. Or the OP can post a ideal shot.

Mick

[Bruce Clausen]

Thanks, Mick. I've only seen the label in your second shot. Interesting that some have numbers, others not. (For the record, the ebay one has 2292.)

[Jim Garber]

I did have a few examples of that same label. Here is one from a rather ornate mandolin.

[brunello97]

Thanks, Jim, it is nice to get a complete view of this. I must say I enjoy these labels with their various signatures, stamps, embossings, numberings, stray marks, cross-outs, and additions.

Mick

[Tavy]

Looks like it's "Vinaccia student week", all from the same seller:

An Angarga and D'Isanto:



and a Maretea:

[Jim Garber]

Nice looking 1905 Fratelli Vinaccia on eBay. Lyre tailpiece. Looks in decent condition with some split in the bowl and piece broken off the end of the bridge.