Re: beautiful bowlback on eBay, worth to buy ?
This one is an oddity; I've never seen a bowl-back without a "canted" or bent top, but this one doesn't seem to have one. If there is a bend in it, it's extremely slight. For that reason, the seller can get away with using the same type of adjustable bridge you'd see on a carved-top instrument -- significantly higher than any other bowl-back bridge I've seen, but apparently capable of giving "normal" string height and action.
The thing that I notice first, is that it's selling for $44. For that price, taking a chance on it involves only a small -- $44 small -- risk. That's maybe a tank of gasoline, or an affordable dinner for two, or a pair of generic jeans. If it piques your interest, why not?
Concur that the pickguard design and headstock shape suggest Northern European manufacture. Might be an interesting purchase, at a really low price.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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