Wanted: Bowlback mandolin. Italian/Greek preferred. American ok.

[brajawill]

Greetings,

I live in southern Indiana, and the access to quality mandolins--let alone bowlbacks--is surprisingly pretty slim around here. I am more interested in Mediterranean music than anything, and an oval-hole, bowlback just goes with the image

Can anyone please recommend me a quality luthier/company/seller that I could trust ordering via mail? Website addresses would be great!

Thank you very much!

[DavidKOS]

http://www.calace.it/

Still making mandolins!

http://www.stutzmansguitarcenter.com...lin%20sISI3703

used Sakis Greek made

http://suzuki-music.com.au/product/index/index/cid/210/

Suzuki

Happy bowlback hunting.

I have an old L and H, and a new Sakis. I've played many others when I worked for a music wholesale dealer who had a collection of old mandolins. Don't overlook any used bowlbacks as long as the action is good.

http://www.mandolinluthier.com/mandolins_for_sale.htm

restored mandolins

[brajawill]

Thank you very much, David!

[tkdboyd]

I have had great luck with Japenese made bowl backs. I have two Suzuki's, one Watanabe, one Ochiai, one Arai, and a Zen-On (?). Also have an inexpensive Chinese one that came with a nice case. Very usable instruments, I have had to lower the action on all of them, but I am trying to play intermediate to advanced classical pieces, so I need/want the action much lower.

If you are starting out and want a bowl back on a budget, Ebay seller old_suzuki_mandolin has been great to work with and has been very up front with any issues the mandolin may have and normally lists the action at the 12th fret.
NFI, just passing along my experience.

If you have to have an European made mandolin, this is available via Amazon

Good Luck and have fun!

[avaldes]

Dennis at the mandolin store has these in stock now and then (looks like now). I keep going back and forth about getting one. I bought a mandolin and some accessories from Dennis, and his store is top notch and recommended without reservation. He is also a Cafe sponsor. NFI on my part.
https://themandolinstore.com/product...back-mandolin/

[avaldes]

BTW, this is Italian Baroque on the mandolin I bought from Dennis (Weber Gallatin A Oval). Bowl-backs are hard to hold.

[brajawill]

Thank you very much, David!

[brajawill]

Thank you very much, tkdboyd and avaldes!

[DavidKOS]

BTW, this is Italian Baroque on the mandolin I bought from Dennis (Weber Gallatin A Oval). Bowl-backs are hard to hold.

Well, maybe to some people, but to those in the know, a bowlback is actually easy to hold and needs no strap, too.

[Ginridge]

I apologize in advance if this is bad forum educate. I just completed minor repairs (2 cracked top braces were re-glued and one small back back split was glued) on what I believe to be a 1920s to early 30s Regal bowl back. Though it's a lower level instrument for the day (9 Rosewood and Mahogany back sections) it is in outstanding, completely original and almost pristine condition and plays very well. It comes with the original case. It's so recent (completed just last night) it isn't even up on my site yet http://ginridge.com/orphan-instruments/, but here are a couple pics:







If this is of interest, I'm going to be offering it at a very reasonable price. You can contact me at vallillo@macomb.com or via phone at 309-833-4838. I'm in Western Illinois and would be glad to ship it to Indiana.