Bowlbacks of Note

[vic-victor]

Thanks, Mick. An interesting instrument, indeed.

[LadysSolo]

So I am wondering if I am an official bowlback addict? I liked the first one so much (American Conservatory) that I have added a Lyon and Healy, a Vega, a Puglisi, and a Angelo Corsini. They are all lovely, and all sound a little different. I cannot find out anything about the Corsini (I have been able to locate discussions about all the others in this thread.) Can anyone tell me anything about Angelo Corsini and his instruments? Thank you.

[Jim Garber]

I cannot find out anything about the Corsini (I have been able to locate discussions about all the others in this thread.) Can anyone tell me anything about Angelo Corsini and his instruments? Thank you.

Can you post some pics of your instrument? It is possible Corsini was a store that had other shops build its mandolins and put its own label in it -- a very common practice both in Europe and in North America.

[brunello97]

Angelo Corsini had an address on Via Chiaia. Whether he made things there or sold others' work is unknown to me. This example looks very much under the influence of I Vinaccia, who had their various shops qui vicino. Calace even had a shop on the same street for awhile.

Mick

[LadysSolo]

It was on ebay last week. I don't know how to link to it but it was number 291586875973 (the auction item #). It looks a lot like the one you have pictured, Mick. Thanks!

[Jim Garber]

Those photos are of your mandolin. Those are from your eBay auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291586875973

[LadysSolo]

LOL!! Then that's why it looks a lot like it! It is in very good condition for the age. It was just a little dirty, and cleaned up nicely. Plays very easily too. I was nervous with it coming from the UK, but it made it fine. Reading other threads where others on this thread had gotten bowlbacks from overseas safely made me feel better about trying it.

[Bill Clements]

Ditson Update!
I got my 1905 Ditson Empire back from Elderly yesterday after a second round of restoration.
I decided to go for broke and get this mandolin completely playable. Initially, after purchasing the mandolin from eBay in June, I had Elderly restore the bridge and tuner machines. This last time around in the shop I asked Arnold Hennig to reset the neck, do a French polish on the top and peghead, level the frets, and lower the action even more. Now it's a joy to play!
Thanks again to Mick for his help in recommending this mandolin.

[Beanzy]

That's so great to see another good instrument revived and brought back to the land of living instruments.
Good for at least another ton of years before the next fettling.
Bravo to you.

[brunello97]

Fair play to you, Bill. The mandolin looks amazing. I am so glad that you decided to keep it and get it properly playable. Kudos to Arnold, I have just the mandolin to bring him. I mean, it looks brand new, as Beanzy says. Just gorgeous.

The Ditson Empires are great mandolins--very responsive. I still tend to think they are Vega made. Glad you are happy with yours. I had mine out just the other night.

Wahoo.

Mick

[Scot63]

Gosh, that is really beautiful. Congratulations! Would love to hear a sound clip.

[Tavy]

Just snagged this fancy Ceccherini on behalf of another cafe member (you know who you are! ). It's absolutely filthy, but I have high hopes for this one:

[derbex]

This alleged Calace is quite close to me, there's no label though and I haven't seen another Calace like it.

[Alex Timmerman]

Hi Derbex,

It is a German made mandolin; not a Calace.


Best greetings,

Alex.

[DavidKOS]

And do I see that the last bit of the extended fingerboard has been scooped?

[Alex Timmerman]

Hi DavidKOS, Yes indeed, it is scooped, but that is original and intended like that by the maker.

[Namder]

When I saw this on Ebay, I said to a friend that I bet this will end up with Tavy.

[brunello97]

Just snagged this fancy Ceccherini …..It's absolutely filthy, but I have high hopes for this one:

Indeed it is, John.

Two people separated by a common language. Filthy.

BTW, I love British slang, too. I just don't know enough of it.

Mick

[Martin Jonas]

Just snagged this fancy Ceccherini on behalf of another cafe member (you know who you are! ). It's absolutely filthy, but I have high hopes for this one:

Congratulations! I was watching this one and thinking of putting in a bid, but I was put off by the condition and slightly dubious as to how the fancier level of decoration looked -- it seemed overdone in the auction photos. Your photos look a whole lot more appealing than those in the auction, but at least it meant we weren't outbidding each other.

Martin

[Tavy]

Indeed it is, John.

Two people separated by a common language. Filthy.

Well it's in Webster's as a synonym for dirty which is how I would use it, I'm much too rural to use Urban slang

Congratulations! I was watching this one and thinking of putting in a bid, but I was put off by the condition and slightly dubious as to how the fancier level of decoration looked -- it seemed overdone in the auction photos. Your photos look a whole lot more appealing than those in the auction, but at least it meant we weren't outbidding each other.

Glad we weren't bidding against each other - you're right it all looked not so good in the eBay photos - mostly on account of the dirt. Now that it's cleaned up and the missing MOP is getting replaced it's starting to look seriously bling.

[brunello97]

Congratulations! I was watching this one and thinking of putting in a bid, but I was put off by the condition and slightly dubious as to how the fancier level of decoration looked -- it seemed overdone in the auction photos. Your photos look a whole lot more appealing than those in the auction, but at least it meant we weren't outbidding each other.

Martin

I think it looks pretty handsome….though I can't tell the degree of dirt John was referring to. Glad it seems worth the time to get straight.

All a matter of opinion and taste, but I do quite like the basic design bones of the the Ceccherini / DeMeglio design framework though have felt the Ceccherini attempts at bling have been much more successful than with DeMeglio. Similar with Martin (and Embergher) bowls, which for me have such elegant profiles which I appreciate more in their unornamented versions.

Please keep us filled in on the repair / restoration process, John…..

Mick

[vic-victor]

Just found a Russian listing of a completely ruined instrument that looks a lot like Ceccherini, but with a different label. I haven't seen any Ceccherinis in Russia yet. Interesting.

[Tavy]

Just found a Russian listing of a completely ruined instrument that looks a lot like Ceccherini, but with a different label. I haven't seen any Ceccherinis in Russia yet. Interesting.

I think I may pass on that one....

[Tavy]

Duplicate.

[vic-victor]

Yep, not worth purchasing, for sure. But I am curious if someone have seen the label like that? Does not look llike a Ceccherini label, though the instrument itself does.