A
mandolino is an
Italian-made
mandolin. Mandolinos tend to be more
ornate than
generic mandolins. Most have very fine
carving and inlays on the face of the body. I've also found that most mandolinos have a center round soundhole instead of two f-style holes.
There are two general types of
mandolinos.
The A-style is pear-shaped with a flat back. These are the most common inexpensive versions of the instrument.
The bowl-back, gourd and bazooki styles are rounded-back versions. The very old versions of mandolinos are normally this type. The oldest bazooki I've played was 220 years old, hand-carved in Italy.
This was a nodeshell rescue.