Re: Help identify bowlback
A maple bowl Calace? I can see why you were attracted, Hany. It does look as if the neck has rotated up some possibly from the top sinking in a bit around the soundhole--looking at your first photo with the ruler.
You might be able to get that playable if you shave down the bridge enough. I have done this on a few old bowlbacks in apparently similar condition. I have glued in a couple small braces--like the ones Embergher uses on either side of the sound hole to stiffen that up. And also a small spruce plate on the top underside "north" of the brace just inside the soundhole towards the fretboard. CFMartin did that on their old bowls as well.
200 Euros isn't a bad price for a Calace, though this is a modest one and it will take some work to get playable. Obviously, you've had it in your hands though. I'd be sort of tempted myself if it were in my neighborhood. How open do you think the seller is to an offer? It is a maple bowl....
Keep us posted.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
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