Francesco Salome Fabrica Di Mandolini Neapolitan Bowl-Back Mandolin - Natural

I purchased this pretty bowl-back mandolin from Chisolm Hunters shop in the centre of Glasgow, sometime in the late 1960s/early 1970s. I played it extensively in folk clubs up and down Scotland and the Glasgow City Halls. However, it suffered an accident, damaging the head and top of the soundboard. Luckily, the beautifully-built bowl and ribs were unaffected and the original enclosed machine heads work almost as new. I had it repaired but you can still see the scars (see photographs) and the action at the higher frets is higher than it was.

I've given it a clean up and put new strings on it. It sounds good with the authentic Italian tone. It plays well for most folk and classical tunes. You could probably get away with playing Vivaldi although the higher passages might be a bit more demanding.

It is a lovely instrument with mother-of-pearl and ebony around the sound hole and the body. There is a tortoiseshell scratch plate with a floral mother-of-pearl inlay. Although I think a musical instrument should always be played, it is even worth buying just for decoration or gracing a wall. It comes in its original battered case with repairs to the fastenings and handle.