Re: First classical mandolin...
I too played all styles of music on F- and A-style instruments for years. At some point I realized I needed to get an Italian bowlback, to understand the Italian romantic style better. I never went back, once I discovered my bowlback was a versatile instrument for other styles, too. And I discovered some points about the bowlback that are advantageous for classical playing. But of course, every choice is a tradeoff!
Especially since you have violin experience, you might find that the shorter, violin-like scale of most bowlbacks is more comfortable. If you get into the more soloistic, classical mandolin repertoire, you'll also probably find that music more playable on a shorter-scale instrument. I find some of the music of the early American mandolin composers (such as Pettine) to be virtually unplayable on the longer-scale instrument. Also, the shorter scale makes the big stretches easier, and reduces the string tension, making tremolo and fretting easier. YMMV.
If you're looking for a bowlback, eBay is a risky way to go. There are a few dealers around who can be relied upon for good instruments: Elderly, Stutzman's, Bernunzio. (NFI of course.)
Exploring Classical Mandolin (Berklee Press, 2015)
Progressive Melodies for Mandocello (KDP, 2019) (2nd ed. 2022)
New Solos for Classical Mandolin (Hal Leonard Press, 2020)
2021 guest artist, mandocello: Classical Mandolin Society of America
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