Electric guitar
Date1963 ca.
Place MadeHradec Králové, Czechoslovakia, Europe
ModelStar V
Serial No.50 934
SignedGold and black decal on upper bass corner of body front: JolanaGold and black decal on head: Star
MarkingsBranded on back of neck at joint with body: 50 934
DescriptionThe Star was Jolana’s answer to Fender’s electric guitars, which were popular worldwide, but not accessible in Communist Czechoslovakia. This guitar belonged to the Polish surf rock band from Warsaw, the Tajfuny (Typhoons), who brought the early 1960s, southern California genre to young audiences in the eastern block. It would have originally had a tremolo, or whammy bar, now missing.
Head: maple; integral with head; nickel-plated steel truss rod cover; nickel-plated steel wire string guide
Neck: maple with mahogany truss rod cover strip
Fingerboard: brown hardwood, possibly mahogany; 21 nickel-silver frets (including zero fret); single plastic imitation mother-of-pearl dots behind the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st frets; double imitation plastic mother-of-pearl dots behind the 12th fret
Nut: bone
Bridge: beech with nickel-plated brass height adjustment screws and four slots for nickel-silver compensated saddles
Tailpiece: fixed with tremolo bar, now missing
Pegs: six on one side, white plastic cover over gears and ivory plastic heads
Strap button: nickel-plated steel
Pickup configuration: double-coil pickups in the neck and bridge positions; white plastic pickup covers
Controls: steel volume and tone knobs; nickel-plated steel three-way switch with ivory plastic knob
Pick guard: white plastic
Finish: red lacquer
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 906 mm
Body length (neck to end): 363 mm
Upper bout width: 242 mm
Waist width: 199 mm
Lower bout width: 290 mm
Body thickness: 29 mm
Head length: 189 mm
Head width, top: 46 mm
Head width, bottom: 66 mm [measured at the widest point on the treble side]
Neck length (nut to end of neck tenon): 338 mm
Neck width, nut: 41 mm
Neck width, end of neck tenon: 49 mm
Vibrating string length (nut to saddle edge): high E: 585 mm; low E: 591 mm
Nut to 12th fret: 296 mm
ProvenanceOriginally belonged to the Polish surf rock band, the Tajfuny (Typhoons)
Gift of Michael Cwach, 2013
Credit LineGift of Michael Cwach, 2013
Object number14764
On View
Not on view
Jolana, Československé Hudební Nástroje (Czechoslovak Music Instruments)
1970-1972 ca.
