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I was given an older mandolin the other day...a Czechoslovakian flat-top and flat-back under the name Cremona. I was told it's from the 40's. The headstock resembles a classical guitar and it's got a small oval sound hole. It's in fantastic shape; I only had to spring for new strings and tuners. Does anyone have anything on this brand? Or of mando's from that time and place?
I'll have to post pictures later once I'm back from work.
Cremona was the biggest (and the only) manufacturer of stringed instruments (many 100's of thousands instruments per year) in communist era. It was founded after WW2, I guess 50's, so your mandolin is younger than you think. They made all kinds of instruments in many levels from all plywood to all solid fancy pieces. Th eolder ones (50's-60's) were usually solid wood even in lower levels, later they used plywood wherever possible and some solid tops were from multiple pieces.
They are easily located here and probably there's one guitar or mandolin on each attic in this town. Their value may differ radically, but I can get older flat back mandolin for something like 20-30Eur (40-50USD) any day.
Great to know, thanks! I really enjoy playing it...it sounds a bit to me like how a bouzouki-ukulele might.
Don't look too carefully at how it's strung...
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That looks just like my first mandolin! Mine had straight end of the headstock but the rest is identical. STained maple fingerboard, brass frets, pickguard with three screws, plywood back. Definately 70's or early 80's.
BTW, the company still exists, the state owned giant got sold and shrunk as competition grew, their new name is Strunal.
Happy picking!
Ah, Cremona ... they made some horribly stinky violins back in the day.
Hi!! That mandolin is the same as mine!!!
I am looking for the tailpiece which is broken. Any ideas of where I can get the same?
Thank you!!!
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Originally Posted by celtolin
Wow, thats the ame as the one I have. Just posted about it. Yours is in a bit better shape though.Attachment 105326Attachment 105326Attachment 105327Attachment 105328Attachment 105329
Those are horrible, I have to know that, I own one :-)
Where did you get it?
Company changed name to Strunal, you could look for that.
Tailpiece available at:Quote:
Originally Posted by jeanette_russ
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,...Tailpiece.html
I guess the slothead mandolin is a European tradition?
I bought this in a used articles store.
FLAT BACK MANDOLIN Made by STRUNAL Manufacture
Luby - Czech Republic
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I also found tis one on ebay just out of curiosity.
It's exactly the same but older since it was still Czechoslovakia.
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