Conference napalm::guitar

1343.0. "Help Finding The "Laud" ..." by COOKIE::WITHERS (Short-Term Profits is an Oxymoron) Fri Jun 16 1989 13:56

Earlier this year, I had the fortune of being in Copenhagen.  In the meager time
I was there I stopped in a very interesting music store and found a peculiar
instrument.

It was called a "Laud", made by "Austuria".  It had the body shape of an
octave-mandolin/mandocello, a 14-fret neck, twelve strings tuned in pairs
(mandolin-style rather than 12-string guitar style) and tuned like a guitar but 
a fifth down.  The cost was about $350US (including the ~$50 VAT I'd get back).
The problem was that there was no case for it and, aside from the hastles of 
plane travel with an instrument, I'd have to buy a guitar case.

It was the first guitar-tuned instrument I've been able to get any kind of music
out of.

So, I didn't buy it but decided to look in the 'States.  But, I'm having little
luck so far.  The local luthiers here have looked at me and said "huh?".
I called Elderly Instruments with no luck.  Before I call Lark in the Morning
and Pietro Diero and write to "Ask Frets", anyone out there have anyidea how I
could find the US distributor for Austuria or know of any sources where I could
find one of these beasts?

Thanks for any help...
BobW