View Full Version : 1954 calace
Dankrat
Sep-15-2007, 11:21am
Hi all,
i am close to purchase a '54 Calace, can you tell me about? (it's a Bowlback, http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif)
Greeting from Italian-Switzerland!
Greetings Dankrat, welcome to the Cafe!
Calace is one of the best-known builders of bowlback mandolins, and is considered to be one of the "big three" together with Vinaccia and Embergher. But unlike most of the old bowlback builders, Calace are still making mandolins. Here's a link to the Calace website:
http://www.calace.it/
I have a 1974 Calace which I bought earlier this year, and I really like it. It is a little on the heavy side compared to most of the Italian bowlbacks, but it has a great tone and I love the Calace aesthetic. Here's a picture of mine
Fliss
Dankrat
Sep-16-2007, 4:29am
Here in Europe, we have almost only bowlbacks mandolin...
i have a Musikalia, but it hasn't a very good sound.
Somebody has a '54 calace photo?
Jim Garber
Sep-16-2007, 8:12am
I have a few photos of various Calaces from the 1940-searly 1960s but they made a few different models. If you are buying it sight unseen I would suggest getting photos from the seller and also details about repairs and other issues you will need to get the mandolin playable.
Here is a nice 1948 Calace.
Jim
Jim Garber
Sep-16-2007, 8:14am
Here is a fancier one from 1961.
Jim
Dankrat
Sep-16-2007, 9:55am
Thanks, i know it is a "Top-Züstand" mandoline, very good condition and, i suppose, a good sound.
The seller is a good friend from my orchester, she's trustworthy! 30 september i will go in Zürich and i would post a photo http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
(the last one is very beautiful... i like flowers ;) )
(sorry for the bad english)
Jim Garber
Sep-16-2007, 10:20am
Sounds like it would be a good acquisition, esp if you know the seller and the fact that she is a player. What does "Top-Züstand" mean. (Pardon my lack of German).
The latter pics are of a higher end Calace sold on eBay. The plainer one is the main instrument of a very good American player I met at the CMSA convention in 2004. The ornamentation does not affect the sound and plainer ones acna be as good instruments.
I have two Calaces from the 1920s BTW.
Jim
Dankrat
Sep-16-2007, 11:43am
Top-Züstand mean "Very good condition".
I will be post a commentary of the instrument!
Thanks for the info!