Bowlbacks of Note

[brunello97]

Here is another early US bowlback-from the Indianapolis incarnation of Regal. The bidding is up over $500-probably in some way due to the Handel tuners. Overall a nice looking mandolin. I hope it is not headed to a chop-shop.

Mick

[Martin Jonas]

This is an interesting one, bearing a label with the name "Vinaccia" and the year 1927. I think we've seen this label before, but I'm not sure whether we came to a conclusion of whether this was genuinely how Vinaccias were labelled in 1927, or whether by that late time the name had become generic and was used as a model name by an unrelated luthier (along the lines of the Calace model made by Guriema). For what it's worth, other than these late ones, all Vinaccia labels I've seen say either "Fratelli Vinaccia" or give a specific first name, such as Giuseppe Vinaccia or Gaetano Vinaccia.

In any case, this one does look pretty nice and well-made, so it may be the real thing.

To move swiftly to the other end of the market, this German creation has an interesting bowl -- a rather chunkier approach to scalloped ribs -- but is otherwise a basket case.

Martin

[vkioulaphides]

To my knowledge, the Vinaccia moniker has not become generic --at least not to anywhere near the same extent-- as Calace has. Guriema is hardly exceptional in offering "Calace type", non-Calace instruments; several other (often Japanese) luthiers/shops do the same. Vinaccia on the other hand has this spurious lineage of self-proclaimed allievi...

Incidentally, the rosewood-bowled Embergher A on "Best Offer" already went, well before expiration. Presumably someone made the seller an offer he could not refuse. Oh, well...

Cheers,

Victor

[Jim Garber]

This is an interesting one, bearing a label with the name "Vinaccia" and the year 1927.

For comparison here is a 1926 Flli. Vinaccia with a more conventional label. Reasonable starting bid for a restorable mandolin. It is interesting to see one this late with a four-post tailpiece. Upon further study of the photo it looks like there was another tailpiece at one time and perhaps a previous owner took it off and replaced it with those 4 ivoiroid pins.

[Jim Garber]

I just checked my files for other 1920s Vinaccias and came across the same label in one from 1923 (see attached). As you can see, it is a German import label and it looks like Modern Musik was a rep for Vinaccia in Germany and Switzerland back then.

[Fliss]

A De Meglio in need of some tlc

Fliss

[Fliss]

...and a rather nice looking Embergher

Fliss

[vkioulaphides]

Tipo B-- with all due respect, my least favorite aesthetically (but only because I associate that sort of decorative pickguard with some truly awful German instruments of yesteryear).

This is by the same seller who brought that Egildo to market; considering that that one went for over GBP 500, the "real thing" will surely go well above the opening price of GBP 1,000-- which is, oh... a quarter-million dollars by now, to begin with. #

I am not up to be Oktavian's Marschallin. #

Cheers,

Victor

[Martin Jonas]

A somewhat unusual Tipo B, though. #Don't they normally have checkerboard binding? #This one differs from a Tipo A only through the scratchplate, tortoiseshell with inlay instead of plain ebony. #It's quite a late one, so maybe he had changed the design by then. #Looks to be in fine condition.

Same seller as my Ceccherini, too. #He was a brand new Ebay seller when I visited him to pick the Ceccherini up in person, but he had already been a specialised vintage instrument dealer (mainly violins and flutes) for a long time then. #He's had a steady stream of classy mandolins in good condition since then.

Martin

[billkilpatrick]

very pretty baroque mandolin on italian ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.it/Mandolino-napolet...mZ110223906229

[Martin Jonas]

If I understand the listing correctly, this instrument was used in the recording of three albums by Ensemble Baschenis, and presumably belongs to one of the members of the ensemble. There are a number of mp3s here, but it's not clear whether they feature this particular instrument. The ensemble also has a recording at the Cafe's MP3 page.

Martin

[vkioulaphides]

I must suppress a malicious snicker at observing that the auction for the(somewhat odd) Tipo B just expired, without a single bid. Perhaps the seller's opening bid of GBP 1,000 was too rich for the clientele's (collective) blood... Recession, anyone?

[Jim Garber]

I must suppress a malicious snicker at observing that the auction for the(somewhat odd) Tipo B just expired, without a single bid. Perhaps the seller's opening bid of GBP 1,000 was too rich for the clientele's (collective) blood... Recession, anyone?

"The seller ended this listing early because of an error in the listing."

I am never sure what that means but usually it means that the seller has received an offer he/she could not refuse. Feel free to snicker if it comes on eBay again from the same seller.

[Martin Jonas]

The 1927 Vinaccia went for only 360 Pounds. If it is really from the Vinaccia stable, and if they still had reasonable quality standards in 1927, I would think that was a steal. I do rather like the look of that one.

Martin

[vkioulaphides]

"The seller ended this listing early because of an error in the listing."

A euphemism, perhaps, much like the common "CEO Mr. X has resigned from his post to pursue his other endeavors". Oh, Jim, a ~little~ Schadenfreude does even the meekest some good, however ineffectual, no?

Incidentally (but parenthetically), I must say I LOVED your Calace mandola that you were gracious enough to let me play for a minute or two the other evening. While of course it can potentially take octave-stringing (as the scale is a spacious 17 inches, if I remember correctly), it really, REALLY sings with the CGDA-tuned, bronze-wound strings you had on. It's a lovely instrument, and I wish you much joy in playing it. I will enjoy hearing it played at Carlo's workshop.

I am also eager to hear of developments regarding your Embergher. The buzzes you complained of cannot be anything a little sliver of wood under the bridge cannot fix...

Cheers,

Victor

[Jim Garber]

Yes Victor. I will give you some more time to play that mandola. In some ways I would love to restring it as an octave and see how it sounds. Perhaps with Calace strings.

Yes, I have to find time and or expert hands to adjust that Embergher. Mr. Decava has a rather steep minimum charge tho maybe I can convince him to do a small job as part of some others. When i have the resources to deal with all that.

In the meantime, lots of practice for the impending Aonzo Extravaganza.

[Jim Garber]

Certainly a BBON for sale: 1905 Vinaccia liuto attributed to Samuel Adelstein.

I have seen this one before somewhere and I believe that there was a matching Vinaccia mandolin. I think i havce some pics of it in my files.

[vkioulaphides]

SPECTACULAR!!! FANTASTICO!!! ERSTAUNLICH!!! GEWELDIG!!!

(I will not be bidding on this, of course, as my Large Instrument Era is slated to end in time, not transmute. )

That said, this is a splendid-looking instrument. Let's hope a loving and deserving new owner "adopts" it.

Cheers,

Victor

[vkioulaphides]

And <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Michele-Maratea-antique-Vinaccia-mandolin-napoli_W0QQitemZ130198340738QQihZ003QQcategoryZ1
0179QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">here</a> is a... *ahem*... drastically made-over Maratea (for as much as the original authorship can be discerned beneath all the bling).

[Keith Miller]

why the cover over the tuners, is this common ?

[Keith Miller]

here is the body, looks like a new tail piece

[trebleclef528]

why the cover over the tuners, is this common ?

It's not common to have covers on the front although I have seen them before. More common especially on some of the more higher quality bowlbacks, were "enclosed machine heads" at the back of the head, and as far as I know this was/is to protect from dust and dirt etc.

[Eugene]

Certainly a BBON for sale: 1905 Vinaccia liuto attributed to Samuel Adelstein.

I have seen this one before somewhere and I believe that there was a matching Vinaccia mandolin. I think i havce some pics of it in my files.

Images of that instrument and its wee mandolin twin used to be posted at Spruce Tree Music in WI. The liuto itself used to be owned by Paul Ruppa. I know he had told me he had sold it, but I don't know where it went after that. Perhaps Linda would care to elaborate...or I can write Paul when I have access to my office e-mail.

[Keith Miller]

There is something about fluted backs that I like
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HIGH-QUALITY-FLUTED-BOWLBACK-MANDOLIN-VINACCIA-SCHOOL_W0QQitemZ330214501617QQihZ014QQcateg

oryZ10179QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HIGH-QU....iewItem</a>

[Martin Jonas]

Here is a Puglisi clearly modelled after an Embergher. #Just to show there's nothing new in the world, this one seems to have the extension scooped by a previous owner. #It's not just bluegrassers who experience pick click...

I barely know what to say about this one. #The maker has thrown everything he can think of on this one, except good taste. #Fluted ribs, sleeve protector, D-shaped soundhole, HUGE pickguard, inlaid initial, inlaid charioteer figure, the mysterious two holes (off-centre, like on German flatbacks, not underneath the strings like on Calace). #All of that sounds rather Calace-esque, but the headstock, the V-shaped neck and the arrow-like bridge are more Embergher insprired. #The soundboard is so busy, there's barely any resonating spruce left. #No label, but I'd guess German rather than Italian. #I also think there's some warping in the neck and the top around the soundhole.

Rather more desirable is this Monzino. Only a few hours to go, and at only 111 Euro it's a snip!

Another dubious inlay picture here. Lohengrin, I think. Most amusing starting bid. I wonder where some people get their idea of value from?

Ver strange soundhole on this one.

Martin