Where can a classical/Italian player find a non-bowlback mandolin

[Monte Barnett]

If I was looking for a clean, well-maintained Martin A from a reliable source, I’d contact this guy, who goes by the same name on Reverb as he does here on the Cafe’:
https://reverb.com/item/38471110-mar...-mandolin-1935

[EdHanrahan]

... scale length, Martin is a traditional 13" while the Calhoun uses a 13.9" ...

Another structural difference is that the Martin has a canted (bent) top, being inherently stronger. Add that to the scale difference (lower string pressure), and I'd expect the Martin's top to be quite a bit lighter, probably with less bracing. And possibly allowing more complex, or at least interesting, resonance.

[Bob A]

I still prefer older Italian bowlbacks for their trebly sparkle.

It's not hard to find decent examples, and there's a wide range of tonalities unique to the various makers - Calace, Vinaccia, Ceccherini, Embergher et al.

[DavidKOS]

I still prefer older Italian bowlbacks for their trebly sparkle.

Almost all the mandolins I own - bowlback or not - have that "trebly sparkle"! It's the sound I like, as long as there's enough bottom end to make the sound rich.

[mandroid]

I believe the Vaunted Mr Loar was a classical player , when that guy from Tennessee was still a kid..

[allenhopkins]

I believe the Vaunted Mr Loar was a classical player , when that guy from Tennessee was still a kid..

If you're referring to Mr. Bill Monroe, he was from Kentucky.

[Murgledoo]

I think people make too much of matching an instrument to a style. If you are playing solo or duo, maybe that's important. Also, if you are playing bluegrass, I guess you need a chop. But I tried my hand at classical with the Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra, one of the premier mandolin orchestras at the time. I took lessons from the conductor and he didn't have a thing about any particular kind of mandolin.I played a Rigel and I was not the only one. I would say only about half the orchestra had "classical-style" mandolins. The main soloist and first chair, who was excellent,played a Stiver F.

If you are playing with a big group, your main concern sound-wise, is being able to be heard when you want to. The fine points of tone get lost in a big ensemble. If you are playing complicated music from notation, your main concern is an instrument your feel comfortable with and can easily find the notes on without looking. Looking the part is not important.

Thank you for your thoughts, I think there is a good deal of wisdom in that post for me to chew on. Ultimately I want to upgrade to a more intermediate mandolin and I should be focusing on if it sounds right to me and fits my needs more than if it is "correct" for the type of music I enjoy playing. Because of this I think I am going to settle on the Northfield Calhoun as it is a large upgrade compared to what I have been playing on and sounds quite nice for the price. Cheers!

[pheffernan]

Because of this I think I am going to settle on the Northfield Calhoun as it is a large upgrade compared to what I have been playing on and sounds quite nice for the price. Cheers!

Elderly just listed one used: https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/169020#169020

[CES]

The Calhoun is a good choice, and a good recommendation. I’ve played a couple of them, and they compared favorably to a Flatiron 1N I used to own (sold in a downsize). It’ll suit you well.

The Calhouns are very different to ally than the Martin Style A I own, but my Martin, which was a later model (‘74, iirc, with the black rather tortoise pickguard), doesn’t have the tonal complexity or volume of some of the older ones I’ve heard. My daughter, who dabbles but doesn’t really play much, chose it from the litter to take to law school because she loved the shorter scale length and lower string tension. As she’s in an apartment in Boston, the lack of volume is a bonus for her.

The Martin was a lesson learned for me. It’s not always possible, but whenever so, I play before I buy (especially tough this last year). I probably wouldn’t have taken it home from a shop. That said, it is a quality, well built mandolin, and I doubt my daughter will ever part with it. Except for the dogs of the dogs, they can do well in the right hands/home. (The seller offered a trial period, but the USPS lost it for about a week before it was delivered, and the poor guy was agonizing about it (I wasn’t), so I couldn’t add to the trauma by sending it back, lol, and, it is a cool little mandolin).