Mandolins For Sale

251 Restored German dome-backed Hamburger waldzither @ £175

Larger photos are available on request.

Old Thuringer Waldzither Mandola Cittern

This is an old flat-back Waldzither, in the Hamburger style, made in Germany probably early to mid 20^th century. It has a maker’s mark stamped inside….

CASIM

Originally a shipping company, this was the company the luthier Carl August Schuster established in Markneukirchen in 1930. It survived until 1982 when its last owner died.

It has the original rosewood finger-board, which is level and in good condition. The instrument has been completely refretted. The spruce top is in fair condition, with 2 shrinkage repairs. The single-piece flat back is in good condition after shrinkage repair. The tuners, bridge and tail are original. The instrument has been completely refinished in Tru-oil. It has been strung as a bouzouki/cittern (GDAEB) and is now playing well with a bright, ringing, sonorous sound and an easy action. The fingerboard and top have been treated with Lem-Oil to inhibit the adherence of grease.

Other than cleaning, I have carried out the following work on this instrument: 1) repaired the scratchplate inlay; 2) repaired shrinkage cracks in the top; 3) re-levelled the fingerboard and fitted new frets; 4) repaired and re-enforced a major split in the back; 5) re-finished the whole instrument; 6) levelled the frets; and 7) re-fitted the original bridge with a new bone saddle.

Waldzither Specifications (In Millimetres)
Overall Length of waldzither	750mm
Width at widest point	320mm
Approx. Depth of waldzither	95mm at bridge.
Finish	Totally refinished in Tru-oil, a modern hard but thin oil varnish, that allows maximum vibration in the wood.
Belly wood	Good quality, close-grained, book-matched spruce. Two shrinkage split repairs. Edging all in good condition.
Sound hole	Round, approx. 65mm. diameter. Purfling and dogtooth edging. Small repair.
Scratchplate	Composite with pictorial inlay including MOP and mock-ivory.
Back	Single-piece flat back in stained maple. A major split repair, visible but now sound.
Neck and Head	Two-piece, stained, neck and head, in good condition. Probably maple.
Sides	Stained maple, good condition.
Fingerboard	Original in rosewood, with 18 new levelled frets. (0 fret) MOP position markers at frets 5, 7 and 12. Original nut.
Machine heads	Original brass and steel tuners all working if a little stiff.
Tailpiece	Original in steel with 8 string hooks and strap loop.
Bridge	Refitted ebony original, with new bone saddle.
Scale Length Bridge to nut	Scale of 440mm
E string height at bridge	12mm
G string height at bridge	12mm
12th fret to bottom string (Action)	2.5mm
12th fret to top string (Action)	2.25mm
Width of fretboard at nut	38mm
Width of fretboard at widest point	54mm
Strap	N/A
Bag	Original canvas carry bag. Working handle and closures.