Klira
The company Klira was from 1887 to about 1982, a German manufacturer of stringed instruments. Initially the company specialized in the construction of violins, violas and cellos, from about the mid-20th century, however, on acoustic and electric guitars. In the 1960s Klira was one of Germany's leading guitar manufacturers in addition to the competitors, Hofner, Framus, Hoyer and Hopf.
History
Klira (now in the Czech Republic Luby ) founded in 1887 by the German violin farmer John Klier in Schönenbach, a town in Cheb, which is a center of plucked and bowed string instrument making since the 18th century. In 1914, took over Klier's son Otto Josef the company. 1950 finally settled the company, as well as some of its competitors from Schönenbach ( including the Höfner instrument maker ), as a result of World War II to Bubenreuth in francs. Here, the production focus of the company of stringed instruments was moved to guitar; initially extended to acoustic guitars, from the sixties to the electrically amplified guitars. To a lesser extent Klira also provided Basses ago, mostly copies of the constructed from competitors Hofner Model 500 /1, also known as " Beatles Bass". In the sixties Klira was confronted posted by increased demand for electric guitars, and expansion of the export business, his greatest sales successes. In the following decade, however, sales declined due to increasing competition from musical instruments of Asian origin so far back that the company had to cease operation in 1982 after nearly a hundred years of existence. However, it was built by hand by Klira to 1984, the Klira TG -58 jazz tone. The rarest Klira and one of the last tenor guitars, in an edition of 30 copies. With prices ranging from about 10,000 euros, this probably rarest and best craftsmanship Klira tenor guitar is traded. The last was in Switzerland to a collector for 19,800 CHF, which are sold around 12,000 euros.
Distribution and importance of the brand
Klira was popular on the musical instrument market as a provider of low-cost entry-level guitars since the 1950s. The most famous and produced in the largest quantities models of the company are probably the Solid bodye guitars of the type Triumphator Electric, which were (without the name Klira ) offered by Quelle 1962-1971 under its own brand through its catalogs. It is often falsely claimed they were made of plywood. Under the vinyl coating, however, is actually solid wood. 1966 was the original price of the triumphant model at source 198 DM what the instrument for its target audience, mostly juvenile guitar beginners, made affordable. Other Klira instruments, however, were available in parallel via the regular music store.
Today, the brand used guitars Klira found in specialized music stores, as well as occasionally at flea markets. The prices asked are, depending on the condition of the instruments, usually somewhat above the original price of the entry-level guitars available on the market, they can in rare or particularly well-preserved instruments but also significantly higher ( as of 2007).
Klira - electric guitars are estimated by some guitarists and guitar lovers because of its dry, slightly dull and sustain poor sound, for example for music in the style of the beat music of the sixties.