Mandolins For Sale

3. Bohm 1B Waldzither (262) @ £200

Larger photos are available on request.

Old Hamburger Waldzither Mandola Cittern

This is an old flat-back Waldzither, in the Hamburger style, made in Germany . It has a maker’s label inside that says….

C. H. Bohm

Hamburg 5, Steintorweg 2

Fernsprecher GR 4. 6825

A study of Bohm catalogues and labels shows that this is Model 1b, made probably between 1910 and 1917.

It has the original rosewood finger-board, which is level and in good condition. The spruce top is in fair condition, with 2 shrinkage repairs. The single-piece flat back is in fair condition after shrinkage repair and re-fitting. The tuners and tail are original. The ebony and bone bridge is new. 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 loud, ringing, bell-like 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 shrinkage cracks in the top; 2) re-levelled the fingerboard and fitted new frets; 3) repaired and re-enforced a major split in the back, and refitted the back; 4) re-finished the whole instrument with Tru-oil; 5) levelled the frets; and 6) made and fitted a new ebony and bone bridge.

Waldzither Specifications (In Millimetres)
Overall Length of waldzither	680mm
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. Dogtooth edging and purfling all in good condition.
Sound hole	Round, approx. 80mm. diameter. Purfling and dogtooth edging. MOP inlay.
Scratchplate	N/A
Back	Single-piece flat back in stained maple. A major split repair, visible but now sound. Now edged with ebony.
Neck and Head	Single-piece, stained, neck and head, in good condition. Probably maple.
Sides	Stained maple, good condition.
Fingerboard	Original in rosewood, with 18 original brass frets, newly levelled. (0 fret) MOP position markers at frets at 3, 5, 7 10 and 12. Original brass nut.
Machine heads	Original brass and steel tuners all working well.
Tailpiece	Original in brass with 9 string hooks. ‘Saiten C 14650’ is inscribed on it.
Bridge	New ebony with bone saddle.
Scale Length Bridge to nut	Scale of 470mm
E string height at bridge	17mm
G string height at bridge	18mm
12th fret to bottom string (Action)	2.5mm
12th fret to top string (Action)	2.5mm
Width of fretboard at nut	40mm
Width of fretboard at widest point	54mm
Strap	N/A
Bag	Original canvas carry bag. Working handle and closures.
Tuner	A tuning key will be included.