Re: Bowl-back mandolin VS (what i'm called) "ukulele mandolin"
The guitar-or-uke-shaped mandolinetto just went out of style. You can find them, used, in the US. The Howe-Orme ones tend to be expensive, but there are less expensive ones; Lark Street Music in NJ has a Howe-Orme for $700, e.g. You can find some from the Chicago builders labeled "Vernon," which was a trademark of the big C. Bruno & Sons US distributor.
In England, there are some century-old mandolinettos; John Maddock, who posts as Tavy on the Cafe, states in notes to a YouTube vid: These go under various names including "The Viennese College of Music", "The Neapolitan College of Music" or "The Neapolitan Patent Mandoline Co", but they all usually proclaim: "By His Majesties Royal Letters Patent No 2272" which is a 1902 patent for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE MANDOLINE TYPE".
Not sure where in Europe you are, but you might search out Tavy on the Cafe and PM him to see if he knows where there might be one.
I wouldn't necessarily say that a mandolinetto would be easier to play than your bowl-back (though it might be easier to hold). In my experience -- I have a Howe-Orme -- the mandolinetto sounds quite similar to a bowl-back mandolin: bright, trebly, clear though relatively thin tonal quality.
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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