there must be millions of these instruments out there - mostly from germany and points east, i would guess - and i haven't a clue about any of them.
they're usually described on german ebay as "flachbauch" and feature either a slated back with alternating stripes of light and dark wood or a geometric, kaleidoscopic design. "hopf" is a name i've seen mentioned and "framus" ... but most of them appear to be non-descript and nameless - some of them have the dubious distinction of being made in the german democratic republic.
my first mandolin was one of these - i wrote a haiku about it:
nameless old german
bought for nothing on ebay
patiently teaching
... i subsequently gave it away but it tided me over while i waited to fly back to the states for a visit and pick up a brand-new mid-missouri.
anyone interested in them? - or is "flatback of note" in this instance, a bit of an oxymoron?