Mandolin: Bowlback/Roundback
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 19:27:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: flat-front vs. bent-top
Greetings Kimberly,
i recently purchased a mandolin without extensive knowledge about the
differences in quality, tone, resonance, presence, volume, and
playability. (after reading your faq's, i realized that there is more
to consider than i had previously known). it is a flat-back,
flat-front, matte, a-style, with an oval hole, and it is an antique
with a small repair (but still playable). i don't know what type of
wood it is made of, but the back has five stripes, alternating light
and dark, though that is all that is distinctive about that. the
design around the hole is a butterfly, and it is also signed cometa.
(maybe you recognize this model?)
Sorry, I haven't heard of this model...I have seen them before with the butterfly around the soundhole...and, usually, these are bowlback mandolins...I'm sure, if it is set up correctly, it should make an excellent student mandolin...may even serve you well for years to come...if you're unsure of the set-up, I highly recommend that you take it into a local shop for proper set-up...we don't want you to become discouraged during the learning process.
i am most interested in tone
quality, resonance, presence, and playability than volume, but i read
somewhere that bent-top mandolins have a "better" sound.
I'm not sure where you've read this...however, the only bent-top mandos I've seen are old vintage no-names, with bowl backs, or Martins...and, believe me, they don't necessarily sound better than a flat-top mandolin...there are many more variables to consider such as the type of wood used, the set-up and the quality of construction...
i was disappointed. i then read on your faq's that the matte finish gives
it resonance, and that made me feel better. "better" sound probably
includes volume, and also according to your faq's, you list different
degrees: presence, projection, and resonance. like i said, i am
mostly concerned with a quality tone, resonance, and i also think
presence is important.
The matte finish does add resonance and aliveness to a mandolin...however, this isn't contributory to volume and projection...and archtop mandolin will almost always project better than a flat-top mandolin...this is why different applications should predetermine which body style to purchase...
i am impatiently and nervously waiting and
hoping that when this arrives in the mail, it will have a good sound.
after explaining what i am looking for and what i purchased, do you
think that i made a good choice?
Sure...as long as it's set up correctly....that would be my only concern on your behalf....
what do you think about the sound of
an antique compared to a new mandolin in general?
Usually, the older the mandolin, the more seasoned the tone....
Hope the above helps somehow...Mickey
i would expect a richer sound. after reading everything, i am also wondering how the
flat-front compares with the bent-top and what difference a matte
finish might make. thank you for your time!
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 19:04:00 -0500
Greetings:
Hi. My husband just brought home what looks like an old mandolin. It
looks pretty cool and old, but the wood is cracking along the edges of
the top of it and along the edges of handle where the handle touches the
flat top of it (sorry, I don't know the term for each part of the
instrument). It has a round back and eight strings (or four double
strings).
From your description, this sounds like a bowl-back mandolin...these are the traditionally designed mandolins that came out of Europe to the states...other mandolins came into being with a flat-back which quickly diminished the popularity of the bowl-back. These usually have an extensive history and are still considered collectible. Most mandolinists in the states prefer the flat-back mandolins as opposed to the bowl-back (also called the tater-bug)...the bowl-back has a far softer tonality than a flat-back and serves well for classical and traditional italian music...
It has an oval hole with a picture of a butterfly centered
over the hole. The butterfly looks like maybe it's made of different
wood inlaid into the wood of the face of the instrument. Around the hole
are little fancy curly shapes that look like mother of pearl. The
rounded back is made of ribs of wood, but the ribs don't start until
about 2 1/2 inches below the face of the instrument (those top 2 1/2
inches of the rounded back look like they're all the same piece of wood
maybe). Inbetween each 1/2 in rib, are really narrow (1/32 or 1/64th in)
lighter strips of wood. Should we look for a name or a place or date
stamped or written somewhere in it. There's nothing on the outside that
I can see.
Usually, the maker's id is located in the soundhole...many times, on older vintage mandolins of this nature, a maker's id cannot be found. And, because of this, usually have a mysterious identity...there were many independent makers of these...similar to violin...
Basically, we are not only curious about this fun thing he brought home,
but also wondering whether we should covet it and set it up high where
the five kids can't reach it, or, just the opposite, let them play with
it (in which case one or two of them in particular will have stepped on
it within ten minutes and the other three will be furious because they
are capable and willing to be careful...the other two are willing, but
not able). What is your opinion?
I'd set aside until I could have it properly identified...these are not usually valuable...however, you never know...my suggestion would be to look for an inexpensive mandolin for the kids to have fun with...and encourage them to play and have fun with music.
If you don't have one, can you give
some ideas on who might be able to give us some advice? Maybe we should
even get it repaired (but we are low middle income, so this may be an
impossibility). Are repairs just horribly expensive?
You have to be extra careful with repairing older vintage instruments...if not done correctly, they can be irreparably modified...again, this sounds like a mandolin to hang on the wall and cherish for its history...and, not to take a chance with altering it structurally...be also aware of the fact that some of these mandolin were so delicately made that they cannot withstand the tension that new mandolins strings, being made today, can create...if stringing it with new strings, look for a silk and steel type string...one that won't add too much tension to your mandolin...
Hope this helps...Mickey
Thanks very much, Allison NH, U.S.
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