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Thread: Is this some sort of Mandolin?

  1. #1

    Default Is this some sort of Mandolin?

    Howdy folks!

    I was at a friend's house the other day and since I play mando he thought I might know what this instrument is.

    Sadly, I don't. But as it has 4 strings, I can understand why he thought it might be a member of the mando family. Or is it?

    All I've been able to find by searching against the name on the inside ("F. Jühling Dresden") is this harp guitar page:

    http://harpguitars.net/history/org/org-hybrids.htm

    and some listings for zithers made by F. Jühling of Dresden (an old, but long-defunct German company).

    I'm hoping someone here might know more that I can pass on to my friend.

    Many thanks,

    Will
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  2. #2
    but that's just me Bertram Henze's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this some sort of Mandolin?

    F. Jühling was a German builder of Zither-type instruments (remote relatives of the dulcimer). The strongly radiused fretboard on this one, however, makes me suspect it was made to be bowed, not picked (which, in turn, reminds me of the infamous ukelin).

    Whatever you do, don't put it on your face after dark...
    the world is better off without bad ideas, good ideas are better off without the world

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  4. #3
    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this some sort of Mandolin?

    I agree with Bertram: it's a german Streichzither (bowed zither). They come in a variety of shapes, some fairly violin-like and others just like this one. Here's a link to some photos and a brief discussion in English:

    http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/di...hp?f=3&t=16870

    Some more pictures and German descriptions here:

    http://www.studia-instrumentorum.de/...og_zithern.htm

    Martin

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  6. #4
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this some sort of Mandolin?

    Yup, bowed zither alright!

  7. #5
    Mandolin Botherer Shelagh Moore's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this some sort of Mandolin?

    Yep! I have one almost identical.

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