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5.  Old Italian bowlback  mandolin (834)    @ 180 euros

 

Larger photos are available on request.

Old named Italian bowlback (834)

This is an old, Italian bowl-back mandolin from the late19th century, probably made by de Meglio apprentices or under licence as an entry level instrument. It has a fairly wide fingerboard and long scale, and is in good condition after restoration. There is a label which says…

Sistema de Meglio

Napoli

This instrument is now fully restored. The top is sound with two shrinkage repairs. It has a 25-piece rosewood bowl back with a couple of seam repairs. It has the original re-levelled fingerboard in ebony, with original brass bar frets and mounted on a shim. The tuners, tail, bridge are all originals. The top has been lightly refinished with Tru-oil for protection, elsewhere it retains the original French polished finish. It has been restrung with ultra-light GHS bronze wound classical strings, and is now playing well with a rounded, mellow sound with good sustain and fair volume. It has an easy playing action.

Other than cleaning, I have repaired as follows… 1) replaced a few bits of broken edging; 2) made small repairs to the damaged scratchplate; 3) reset fingerboard and original brass bar frets on shim; 4) repaired two shrinkage splits in the top; 5) repaired a couple of open seams in the bowl; 6) finished the top for protection with a coat of Tru-oil; 7) repaired and refitted original bridge and tensioner; and 7) strung and set up.

 

 

Mandolin Specifications (In Millimetres)

 

Overall Length of Mandolin

610mm

Width of mandolin at widest point

200mm

Approx. Depth of mandolin

150mm at bridge.

Finish

Original finish in good condition. Touched up around repairs. A coat of Tru-oil protects the top.

Belly wood

Good quality, close-grained, book-matched, spruce top with twu shrinkage repairs. Top sealed with a coat of Tru-oil. Small edging repairs.

Scratch plate

Original, small chips repaired.

Sound hole

Oval hole, approx. 62 x 35mm. Also side vents.

Back and sides

25-piece, rosewood, bowl-back, clasp, and sides. Repairs to a few seams.

Neck and Head

2-piece, veneered head and neck. All original.

Fingerboard

Original ebony with original re-levelled brass bar frets set on a shim. MOP position markers at 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12.

Machine heads

Original steel and brass enclosed tuners with original buttons. All working.

Tailpiece

Original in brass with 4 string posts.

Bridge/tensioner

Original ebony shelf bridge and tensioner.

Scale Length Bridge to nut

Scale of 342mm

G string height at bridge

5.5mm

E string height at bridge

5.5mm

12th fret to bottom of G string (Action)

2mm

12th fret to bottom of E string (Action)

2mm

Width of fretboard at nut

30mm

Width of fretboard at widest point

42mm