Bowlbacks of Note

**Jim Garber** · Jul-05-2010, 5:31pm

Nice looking, simply adorned, 1910, style 24(?) Calace mandolin on eBay Germany.

Here are a few pics for historical purposes.

**Fliss** · Jul-06-2010, 12:36pm

I like the look of that Calace, Jim. One day I'm going to buy another Calace, as I regret selling the one I had, but probably not very soon.

Fliss

**Fliss** · Jul-19-2010, 4:19pm

Confession time - that Calace got relisted at a much lower opening bid, so I bid.... and it will be on its way to me!!!! I have been wanting for a while to buy a Calace, but hadn't intended to do it just yet, I just gave in to temptation

Needless to say I'll post a report and pics when I have it!

Fliss

**Jim Garber** · Jul-19-2010, 8:08pm

Congratulations (again) to you, Fliss!!

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-19-2010, 10:36pm

complimenti - beautiful looking instrument.

**Jim Garber** · Jul-20-2010, 5:49pm

Did any of the bowlheads here score this Embergher 3?

**Chey49** · Jul-21-2010, 10:42am

There is a Calace Mandolin for sale on ebay item #230495130621 and I was wondering if anyone may have additional info. on this mandolin, maybe its worth etc. Thanks

**Jim Garber** · Jul-21-2010, 11:17am

Re: this Calace on eBay:

That seller had a large collection of high-end and not so high end instruments most at very high prices. This is a higher end Calace and I am sure is a nice instrument but there was another Calace at 1/2 the price. of course, I am not sure of the condition...

Personally, I don't like the aesthetics of this model and would prefer a simpler one. I think this model is the 16bis.

**Bob A** · Jul-21-2010, 1:39pm

I've seen fancier for less. Unless you're in the market for froufrou, look for something simpler - less worry, fewer problems, lower price.

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-21-2010, 2:38pm

couldn't agree more. a very un-bowl-brotherly sentiment but - hand on heart - i think they all sound the same ...

**Chey49** · Jul-21-2010, 11:11pm

Thanks everyone for the info, I hope to find a really nice classical mandolin soon

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-22-2010, 3:15am

Originally Posted by billkilpatrick

couldn't agree more. a very un-bowl-brotherly sentiment but - hand on heart - i think they all sound the same ...

i take that back ... MOST recordings of bowlbacks sound REMARKABLY similar in tone ... to the inexperienced ear ... in my limited experience ... howz'at?

**Jim Garber** · Jul-26-2010, 10:02am

Someone got a decent deal on this 1929 Tipo A Embergher. Anyone here? Looks like it was possibly refinished, probably professionally.

**Jim Garber** · Jul-26-2010, 10:04am

1929 Embergher A pics

**Martin Jonas** · Jul-26-2010, 10:09am

Nice Tipo A. I think you're right that this has been refinished, but looks a decent job. I'm a bit disconcerted by the suggestion that "maybe inside there is a brace a little loose", as it's not clear why he may suspect this. Nice tight figure on the spruce top -- my 1915 Tipo A has similar quality wood, but a lot of 1920s ones I have seen seem to have very irregular and/or wide figure.

Should be a good buy for the successful bidder.

Martin

**Benjamin T** · Jul-26-2010, 2:16pm

The top looks to have been repaired as well. I would also guess that the neck was not refinished. It sure is a handsome/ beautiful mandolin.

**Martin Jonas** · Jul-27-2010, 4:12am

This one is a fairly rare (though not unique) creature: a bowlback using the Gelas double-top system. French, of course, one of the ones made by "J.R.", and dated 1932 on the label.

Link

Martin

**Jim Garber** · Jul-27-2010, 8:15am

Those Gelas mandolins make me nervous for some reason. I guess the concept -- to have the tension opposite the downward direction of a more standard mandolin.

**dave17120** · Aug-05-2010, 4:35am

........ I can tell you they are horrible to work on...... you can't get at anything through the soundhole, as everything bends away from you!! Dave

**Jim Garber** · Aug-06-2010, 4:20pm

Interesting Piccolo mandolin sold by the collector who has quite a few high-priced items on eBay.

**dave17120** · Aug-07-2010, 5:45am

Not come across a piccolo before, how would it have been tuned???? Dave

**Jim Garber** · Aug-07-2010, 3:33pm

My piccolos with a full size Vega (for comparison): Leland (by L&H) and some unlabelled American one. I believe that Bob Annis has a nice Italian bowlback piccolo. Tuning could be cgda, once octave above a mandoliola or American mandola.

**rctil40** · Aug-09-2010, 3:58pm

Hi, I'm looking for a first bowlback - not a special one, but a playable and reasonably nice one for baroque/classical music, what do you think of these? Thanks.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Ritchie

**Jim Garber** · Aug-09-2010, 4:19pm

Of the four, with a very quick look, I like the Ferrari the best. The first one looks like a piece of junk made for tourists, to be blunt, in a sort of Roman style. The second is a DeMeglio clone and could be decent if set up properly. The fourth one, i agree with the seller, is probably German and might be decent but the bridge looks like it is sitting on or below the cant and it should be on the fretboard side of the cant. Usually this is located there because the action is way too high otherwise. This seller says he sets these up professionally, so i would be hesitant.

If I were you I would find a shop that has a few bowlbacks and play them. You didn't say this was your first mandolin, just your first bowlback. I would check them out in person rather than trying to get a bargain on eBay.

**rctil40** · Aug-09-2010, 4:26pm

Thanks Jim, very helpful and quick! I would love to try some in a shop, but no such shop exists in Scotland to my knowledge. I know the pitfalls of ebay from bitter experience but I cant find any other source.

Ritchie