Francesco Salome Neapolitan Bowl-Back Mandolin - Natural

I purchased this pretty bowl-back mandolin from the famous Chisolm Hunters shop in the centre of Glasgow, sometime in the late 1960s/early 1970s. I played it extensively in pubs, clubs and the Glasgow City Halls across Scotland. However, it suffered an accident, damaging the head and top of the soundboard. Luckily the beautifully-crafted bowl and ribs were intact and the original enclosed machine heads work like new. I had the mandolin 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 on new strings. It sounds good with the authentic Italian tone. It plays well for most folk and classical tunes -the higher passages of Vivaldi however might be a bit more demanding.

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