Jolana

Jolana is a Czech electric guitar and bass brand whose industrial history began in Czechoslovakia during the formative years of electric-string-instrument production in the region. The brand is associated with the former Jolana manufacturing operation and with a succession of factories and companies that produced guitars, basses, and related instruments from the early 1960s through the late 1980s. New Bohemian Electronics Corp. (NBE) acquired the rights to the Jolana name in 2003 and subsequently resumed production of selected models. The foundations of the Czechoslovak electric-guitar industry were established after the Second World War. Engineer Ferdinand Machalek developed an early piano pickup in the mid-1940s, while the Resonet factory, managed by Josef Růžička, began designing electric instruments in the early 1950s. Designer Vladimir Vlček created the Akord lap-steel guitar, which entered production in 1954, followed by models including Arioso and Arco. Resonet instruments gained recognition at Expo 58 in Brussels, helping demonstrate that Czechoslovak manufacturers could compete in the emerging electric-instrument market. One of the most influential early designs was the Grazioso, a solid-body guitar visually and functionally related to the Fender Stratocaster. Resonet exported the model to the United Kingdom under the name Futurama. Its availability benefited from restrictions on the import of American instruments into the British market before those controls were relaxed in 1959. The Futurama association later became an important part of the brand's vintage reputation, because musicians such as George Harrison, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton were reported to have used examples of the model. A new factory called Neoton opened in Hradec Králové in 1959 under Růžička's management and was soon renamed Jolana. The first guitar carrying the Jolana name was made in 1960. During the following decade, the company expanded from solid-body instruments into semi-acoustic guitars and basses. The Diskant and Tornado models broadened the range, with the Tornado becoming one of the company's better-known designs. The Alexandra followed, while the Alexis and Pampero provided bass counterparts to the Alexandra and Tornado concepts. The Hurricane guitar and Typhoon bass added further solid-body options. Production was distributed among several Czechoslovak facilities. Harmonika in Hořovice was responsible for Tornado production, and by the late 1960s other important electric-guitar manufacturing centers included ČSHN and Varhany Krnov. In 1975, production of Jolana instruments began at the Harmonika Hořovice factory. Later instruments included the Diamant, a design associated with the visual language of the Gibson Les Paul, as well as models sold under the later Delicia manufacturing operation, including Cavallero, Basora, Diskant 2, Marina 2, Onyx, Jantar, Strat, Studio, and Studio Bass. The business also participated in original-equipment manufacturing. From 1988, Harmonika produced Kramer instruments under the direction of Schaller GmbH during a difficult period for Kramer. After the end of the original Kramer company, the factory continued making some final Kramer models using remaining components, bodies supplied by ESP Guitars, and Schaller hardware. In 1993, Delicia was acquired by Bohemia Musico S.R.O. and became Bohemia Musico Delicia, later producing instruments for brands such as Epiphone, Hohner, Spector, American Showster, and MTD. NBE, a manufacturing company established in 2001, acquired the Jolana brand from Delicia in 2003. Delicia then moved away from guitar production and concentrated on other instruments, while NBE revived selected Jolana models, including Grazioso, Tornado, and Diamant. Jolana therefore combines a historic Czechoslovak manufacturing legacy with a modern revival strategy centered on recognizable vintage designs and continued production by a specialist European instrument manufacturer.

Jolana's history is part of the wider development of electric musical-instrument production in Czechoslovakia. Early groundwork included Ferdinand Machalek's piano-pickup work in the mid-1940s and the creation of electric guitars at the Resonet factory in the early 1950s. Resonet was managed by Josef Růžička, while designer Vladimir Vlček developed the Akord lap-steel guitar, introduced in 1954. Resonet subsequently produced Arioso and Arco instruments, and its products received attention at Expo 58 in Brussels. The Grazioso was especially important. Its design drew on the Fender Stratocaster, but it was manufactured in Czechoslovakia and exported to Britain as the Futurama. British import restrictions on American instruments helped create an opening for the model before those restrictions were eased in 1959. The instrument later acquired a strong historical association with musicians including George Harrison, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton, who were reported to have used Futurama examples. Neoton, a new factory established in Hradec Králové in 1959, was managed by Růžička and soon renamed Jolana. The first Jolana instrument was produced in 1960. The company developed an expanding portfolio of electric guitars and basses, including semi-acoustic models such as Diskant and Tornado, followed by Alexandra. Bass versions included Alexis and Pampero. The solid-body Hurricane and its bass counterpart, Typhoon, were introduced during the same period. Some Jolana designs used related bodies for guitar and bass versions, while differing in scale length, neck construction, and hardware. Manufacturing was not confined to one site. Harmonika in Hořovice produced Tornado instruments, and other major Czechoslovak electric-guitar production centers included ČSHN and Varhany Krnov. From 1975, Harmonika Hořovice became a significant production location for Jolana instruments. The range later included the Diamant, a model associated with the Les Paul style, and a series of instruments made under the Delicia name, including Cavallero, Tornado, Basora, Diskant 2, Marina 2, Onyx, Jantar, Strat, Studio, and Studio Bass. Jolana-related manufacturing also became involved in OEM work. In 1988, Harmonika began producing Kramer instruments under Schaller's direction while Kramer was experiencing financial difficulties. Some later instruments used remaining Kramer parts, ESP-produced bodies, and Schaller hardware. In 1993, Delicia was purchased by Bohemia Musico S.R.O. and became Bohemia Musico Delicia. The company subsequently made instruments for several revived or external brands, including Epiphone, Hohner, Spector, American Showster, and MTD. NBE acquired the Jolana brand rights from Delicia in 2003. Delicia stopped making guitars and concentrated on other instruments, while NBE brought selected Jolana designs back into production. Grazioso, Tornado, and Diamant became the principal named examples of this revival. The brand's present identity consequently rests on both historical authenticity and the continued commercial use of recognizable designs from the Czechoslovak electric-guitar tradition.

• 2003

  NBE acquires Jolana rights

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  New Bohemian Electronics acquired the Jolana brand rights from Delicia.

• 1993

  Delicia becomes Bohemia Musico Delicia

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Delicia was acquired by Bohemia Musico S.R.O. and continued as Bohemia Musico Delicia, including OEM production for international instrument labels.

• 1988

  Harmonika begins Kramer OEM production

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Harmonika started producing Kramer instruments under Schaller's direction during Kramer's financial crisis.

• 1975

  Harmonika Hořovice begins Jolana production

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Production of Jolana guitars began at the Harmonika Hořovice factory.

• 1965

  Bass and solid-body models broaden the portfolio

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Alexis and Pampero basses appeared alongside the Hurricane guitar and Typhoon bass, extending Jolana's product family.

• 1963

  Tornado expands the semi-acoustic range

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The Tornado semi-acoustic model was introduced after Diskant and became one of the brand's best-known designs.

• 1960

  First Jolana guitar is produced

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The first guitar carrying the Jolana name was made, establishing the brand as a distinct Czechoslovak electric-instrument label.

• 1959

  Neoton factory opens and is renamed Jolana

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  A new guitar factory opened in Hradec Králové and was soon renamed Jolana.

• 1958

  Resonet instruments receive Expo 58 recognition

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Resonet models including Arioso and Arco were associated with recognition at the Brussels Expo 58 exhibition.

• 1954

  Akord enters production

  [1]Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Resonet began producing Vladimir Vlček's Akord lap-steel electric instrument, an early milestone in Czechoslovak electric-guitar manufacturing.

A historically significant Central European electric-instrument brand positioned around Czechoslovak manufacturing heritage, distinctive mid-century designs, vintage collectability, and selected model revivals.

• Solid-body electric guitar

  Grazioso / Futurama

  The Grazioso was an early solid-body electric guitar influenced by the Fender Stratocaster. Resonet exported it to the United Kingdom under the Futurama name, where import restrictions on American instruments helped it gain visibility. The model is now strongly associated with the vintage history of Czechoslovak guitar production and with reported use by prominent British musicians. NBE later included the Grazioso among the historic Jolana designs returned to production.

• Semi-acoustic electric guitar · 1963

  Tornado

  Introduced in 1963, Tornado was one of Jolana's notable semi-acoustic designs. It was produced at the Harmonika facility in Hořovice and helped expand the brand beyond its earlier solid-body instruments. A related bass concept was known as Pampero. Tornado remains one of the models most closely connected with the historical Jolana range and was among the designs later revived by NBE.

• Semi-acoustic electric guitar

  Alexandra

  Alexandra followed Jolana's Diskant and Tornado semi-acoustic instruments. It represented the brand's effort to offer a broader range of hollow or semi-hollow electric designs during the 1960s. The Alexis bass was described as a bass counterpart to the Alexandra concept.

• Solid-body electric guitar · 1965

  Hurricane

  Hurricane was a solid-body guitar introduced during Jolana's 1960s expansion. Its associated bass version was called Typhoon. Together, the two models illustrate Jolana's practice of developing guitar and bass variants around related body designs while changing scale length and hardware for the different instruments.

• Solid-body electric guitar

  Diamant

  Diamant is a later Jolana solid-body design associated with the visual format of the Gibson Les Paul. It became part of the brand's mature historical range and was subsequently selected by NBE for renewed production after the 2003 acquisition of the Jolana name.

• Electric guitars and basses

  Delicia range

  Under the Delicia manufacturing operation, the related Czechoslovak production tradition included models such as Cavallero, Tornado, Basora, Diskant 2, Marina 2, Onyx, Jantar, Strat, Studio, and Studio Bass. These instruments document the continuation and diversification of regional electric-guitar production after the original Jolana period.

• 2003

  NBE purchases the Jolana brand rightsM&A

  Background

  Delicia had moved away from guitar production after its ownership transition, while the Jolana name retained historical value among players and collectors.

  Action taken

  New Bohemian Electronics acquired the rights to the Jolana brand and took responsibility for its subsequent use.

  Aftermath

  NBE resumed production of selected historic models, including Grazioso, Tornado, and Diamant, keeping the brand active as a heritage-oriented electric-instrument label.

  Source

1. 1Jolana (guitar brand)en.wikipedia.org