LOTOS 1972For more see: www.defil-vintage.pl/2013/10/lotos.html
Lotos was produced in Lubin (Poland) since 1968.
Before 1968 in Bydgoszcz (poland) since 1966.
This is first polish bass
Inspirated from HAGSTROM KENT
The bass is from 1960s years, manufactured in the late communist Hungary, made by the Instrument Factory of Szeged /Szegedi Hangszergyár/.However, the seller manages to somehow neglect to mention the one major thing that makes this bass so interesting (well, to me at least). That is, it has a tremolo arm! Outside of the Fender Bass VI and its imitators such as the Teisco TB-64, I am not aware of any conventional (i.e. FOUR-string) bass guitar to feature a tremolo before Kahler introduced a bass trem system in the 1980s. If any Guitarz readers know of any other examples, please let us know via the comments below!
This bass is truly rare, even in Hungary there are only a few, and those by real collectors, because this bass and the very similar Moni Solo guitar were made only in the 60s years, and since then many of them were destroyed. Some are on the opinion that the Moni guitars aren't that good quality, but I don't think that's true. Indeed, these guitars don't reach the quality of the Gibson and Fender guitars of the same age, but these are very unique sounding instruments that should have their place in people's collections, who appreciate the old guitars that were made in low quantity.
The bass looks like a solid body, but in reality it's a hollow, you can see it in the photos where the inside of the guitar is visible. The original label is inside the guitar, too, it's the number 74 bass, so it means it was one of the first basses made.
The guitars were made in Croatia (ex Yugoslavia) in Muzička naklada Zagreb factory.It's interesting to see that both the electric and acoustic model share the same basic design - I guess it made things easier on the production line to have both models share the same basic construction. Interesting also to see the triple soundholes on the Carioca acoustic guitar.
The 3 PU electric model (hollow body) is called City and the acoustic model is called Carioca.
Guitars are hard to find separately so they are very, very rare in pair. Both guitars are in very good condition for their age.
There are some marks of use and some laquer cracks on the both of them but normal for their age. They both function mechanical very well. Guitars are with all original parts except for th electric - City where one pot knob is not original.
The guitars were made probably at the end of the 60-es or early 70-es. Muzička naklada Zagreb was one of two musical instrument companies in former Yugoslavia and a lot smaller than Melodija Mengeš, so the guitars are hard to find.
Adradic seaside band from 1966 The Blue Stars. Is that a Jolana bass?(Adriatic?)
