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Thread: Information on old bowlback mandolin

  1. #1

    Default Information on old bowlback mandolin

    I have an old Bowlback Mandolin I acquired from a music store in San Francisco in the 1990's
    I have decided I should sell it but I done know anything about it.
    If anyone can give me any information I would greatly appreciate it.
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  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on old bowlback mandolin

    Bowlbacks fail to sell weekly on eBay. With that said this one has some bling so it might be a little more attractive to someone. Post a picture of the string height near where the neck meets the body so we can see if it's still playable. I'm assuming there are no markings inside or out. If there are, what are they?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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  3. #3
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on old bowlback mandolin

    Even though it does have that pearl fretboard, it is really a mid-grade mandolin. The fretboard would be a royal pain for a luthier to work on. In any case, as Mike notes, even though it is probably not worth the price for re-fretting.
    Jim

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    mando-evangelist August Watters's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on old bowlback mandolin

    Several details are very much like an 1890s Sears & Roebuck mandolin that I have. Agree with Jim, probably not more than a mid-level instrument. Impossible to tell the maker (unless there's more info inside), but probably one of the big ones like Lyon & Healy or Regal.

    Condition seems good (although as Mike points out we could use a string height picture). Opinions vary greatly as to the value of vintage American bowlback mandolins, but I'm convinced they're on their way up.
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  6. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on old bowlback mandolin

    That is the reason I had a closet full of them (still have a bunch more). Many people would just assume that they were all junk or wall hangers but I wanted to see first hand which were the ones that stood out, even the least expensive ones. Washburn, Martin, Regal Indianopolis, Vega are among the best of the American ones.
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  8. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on old bowlback mandolin

    But lets add to that by saying that you didn't pay much for that closet full of bowlback mandolins.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  9. #7
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on old bowlback mandolin

    Well... the closet was not cheap.
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  11. #8
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on old bowlback mandolin

    "......Post a picture of the string height near where the neck meets the body so we can see if it's still playable.....
    "

    What Mike said.

    This looks to be in fairly decent shape, I suppose owing to being kept in a case. Maybe the frets can just get dressed for playability rather than redone?

    I've never played a mandolin with an MOP fretboard so have wondered what that feels like. Not enough to enlarge my own "closet", mind you.

    If it is indeed playable, with the bling and case, this could possibly fetch $200-250, maybe more.

    Mick
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  13. #9
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information on old bowlback mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by brunello97 View Post
    Maybe the frets can just get dressed for playability rather than redone?

    I've never played a mandolin with an MOP fretboard so have wondered what that feels like. Not enough to enlarge my own "closet", mind you.
    With regard to fret dressing - they are usually too low for a really effective dressing - so I generally prefer to refret these. In fact refretting is a lot easier than you might think: you remove all the MOP, level the underlying board, and then reconstruct. This is provided no one has has been messing about with super glue or epoxy "repairing" loose MOP - in which case all bets are off!

    With regard to what they feel like: no different to anything else. Provided you keep your nails well trimmed, all fretboard materials feel the same IMO.

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