Intricate Bruno Bowlback

Check out <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/High-Grade-Vintage-Mandolin-MOP-and-Silver-Inlays-Nice_W0QQitemZ320004641238QQihZ011QQcate

goryZ10179QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">this Bruno Mandolin</a> on eekBay. Is this beautiful or what?

[Jim Garber]

It is definitely on the upper end of the Bruno line, prob a presentation model. I can't tell, tho, if it is just the photography or that the workmanship is not quite the equal of the equivalent upper end Martin bowlbacks or the italian mandolins I have seen.

Jim

I don't know if Martin ever went that far over the top on ornamentation. I photographed the entire Martin museum collection of bowlbacks and none were this garish. With that said, I love the over the top, and I doubt the quality is anywhere near the Martins. This is a painted lady. I've learned to appreciate them in my old age. Look at the flower pot. It does bear a striking resemblence to later flowerpots.

[Bob A]

Nothing exceeds like excess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jim Garber]

I don't know if Martin ever went that far over the top on ornamentation.

Maybe not but I think my style 6 comes close. Pictures at the beginning of this thread.

Jim

The link doesn't work.

[Jim Garber]

Sorry, try this one: Post a Picture of Your Bowlback.

Jim

Beautiful Martin. The difference is that yours was tastefully done as one would expect. You didn't post a picture of the back but I'm sure Martin didn't clutter up the top of the bowl with all that little intricate carving and they didn't do the fretboard in that over the top pearl.

Is it playable now?

[Jim Garber]

Beautiful Martin. The difference is that yours was tastefully done as one would expect. You didn't post a picture of the back but I'm sure Martin didn't clutter up the top of the bowl with all that little intricate carving and they didn't do the fretboard in that over the top pearl.

Is it playable now?

Here's photo of the bowl. Yes, Martin even did this ornate instrument with taste and craftsmanship.

It is being made playable as we speak. I would hope to have it in a few weeks.

Jim

Damn, this thing went for a few dollars more than I thought it would. I haven't seen any Martin's go for that much (but then again I haven't seen that many Style 6 Martins for sale).

[Martin Jonas]

I would have thought that's silly money for a Bruno. Clearly, some people are still prepared to pay for over the top inlay rather than for intrinsic musical quality. There's hope for the Antonio Tsais of this world still...

Martin

There's hope for the Antonio Tsais of this world still...

You guys have to start warning me when you use a line like that. It's getting harder to get the diet coke out of the keyboard .

[August Watters]

I would have thought that's silly money for a Bruno. #Clearly, some people are still prepared to pay for over the top inlay rather than for intrinsic musical quality

I haven't seen a cross-section of Bruno mandolins, but yesterday I bought a 20's-era Bruno that's both sweeter and louder than any Martin mandolin I've ever tried. And my turn-of-the-century Bruno parlor guitar is spectacular (although it's admittedly been rebuilt using Martin-style bracing).

August W
www.augustwatters.com

[Jim Garber]

August:
How about a photo of your new acquisition?

Bruno instruments were made by a few companies, so I would not be surprised if there is a variation from okay to actually good.

Jim

[August Watters]

I'm going to be asking more questions of you guys about this one -- It's a wonderful instrument with the old princess-style shape. Angled top, like a taterbug, and tuners with gears built inside the headstock. Engraving on wood on back of headstock. One-piece back, looks like walnut.

I should be able to post photos in a day or two.

August W

...Engraving on wood on back of headstock...

Without seeing this I'm thinking Stromberg-Voisenet. Let's see if I'm right.

[brunello97]

[quote=August Watters,July 26 2006, 17:24]

I haven't seen a cross-section of Bruno mandolins, but yesterday I bought a 20's-era Bruno that's both sweeter and louder than any Martin mandolin I've ever tried. And my turn-of-the-century Bruno parlor guitar is spectacular (although it's admittedly been rebuilt using Martin-style bracing).

August W
www.augustwatters.com

August,

Do you have some pictures of the Bruno to post? I'd love to see it. Were they still making bowlbacks in the '20s or is it a flat-back?

I agree that there was some competition back then (as now). I have a Favilla flat back from that era that sounds very good. Elegant construction from a less well known brand and model.

thanks,

Mick

Bruno was a distributor. They didn't make anything, they farmed that work out.

Favilla guitars are the most ignored collectible instrument I know of. They are great and you can still communicate with the last member of the Favilla family that was involved with the business (or you could a few years ago). I've seen a few of their mandolins, never played one.

[Bob A]

OK, the Bruno is over the top, but I think it has a certain period charm. Two grand is a lot to pay for something like that, but if it sounds good, why not? Lord knows it's in keeping with the excesses of the time. I think the bidder did pretty well. However, like any of its brethren, I'd be afraid to play it much - too much to fall off/crack/etc. And I've certainly had a bout or two of scallop fever, myself.

Headstock reminds me of some of the early Gibson F instruments, with the very fancy delicate inlay. Not bad for a first-time bidder. Next purchase would have to be sunglasses.

I doubt that the bidder had a clue as to how it sounds