Jolana guitars were made in Czechoslovakia from 1959 to c. 1991. Some early (1959-1964) instruments also appeared under the Futurama brand, as marketed by Selmer in the UK. The parent company, CHSN (Czechoslovak Musical Instruments) did not survive the fall of communism in the early 1990s, but the various factories in Horovice, Krnov and Hradec Kralove that used to build Jolana guitars, still produce musical instruments today. In its heyday, Jolana had a full range of solids, hollowbodies, and basses that were extremely popular in Eastern Europe and the USSR. Today, these guitars are mostly collected for their cheesy retro appeal and quirky/innovative features, but some models are of surprisingly high quality.
Most models have the model name on the headstock instead of the Jolana brand, which appears on body or neckplate, sometimes not at all. Most guitars have a 24.8 in. (630mm) scale, most basses have a 30.4 in. (774mm) scale, unless otherwise noted. Minor details may vary, especially style and placement of logo, natural or painted headstocks, non-standard factory finishes, etc. (Source: Edward Pitt for model listings, Walter Murray for initial information).
Instruments previously produced in Czechoslovakia 1959 to circa 1991.

JOLANA Electric Guitars Models

JOLANA ALEXIS Image

JOLANA ALEXIS

- thinline archtop, double cutaway, one soundhole on top only, bound three-ply laminated beech top, bolt-on neck, 20-fret bound fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, two-per-side tuners, single coil pickup, trapeze tailpiece, volume/tone contr...

JOLANA ALFA Image

JOLANA ALFA

- offset double-cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, 20-fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, zero fret, six-on-one-side tuners, three single coil pickups, three-piece black pickguard, vibrato tailpiece, wooden floating bridge with metal sadd...

JOLANA ALEXANDRA Image

JOLANA ALEXANDRA

- thinline archtop, double cutaway, three-ply laminated beech top, top and back binding, bound soundholes, bolt-on beech neck, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, three-per-side tuners, floating bridge, Bigsby-style vi...

JOLANA ALTRO Image

JOLANA ALTRO

- similar to the IRIS, except has no soundhole and a fixed bridge, available in Black or silverburst finish, mfg. 1975-c. 1980.

JOLANA Alexis Super 2 Image

JOLANA Alexis Super 2

- similar to the Alexis, except has two pickups, four controls (two v, two tone), a four-position rotary selector switch, and a wider headstock, bass equivalent of the Alexandra 2 guitar, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1970-79.

JOLANA Alexandra II Image

JOLANA Alexandra II

- similar to the Alexandra, except has two pickups, a four-position rotary selector switch on lower horn, and wider headstock, mfg. 1970-79.

JOLANA BIG BEAT Image

JOLANA BIG BEAT

- offset hourglass-shaped body with metal frame, bolt-on neck, fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, single coil pickup, detachable battery powered amplifier pod with built-in radio. Jolana's most bizarre creation, availa...

JOLANA ALTRO Image

JOLANA ALTRO

- similar to the Iris Bass, except has no soundhole and a fixed bridge, bass equivalent of the Altro guitar, available in Black or Silverburst finish, mfg. 1975-1980.

JOLANA Alexandra Super III Image

JOLANA Alexandra Super III

- similar to the Alexandra, except has three pickups, a four-position rotary selector switch on lower horn, a four-position rotary tone preset switch, and wider headstock, mfg. 1970-79.

JOLANA DIAMANT Image

JOLANA DIAMANT

- single-cutaway body, copy of Gibson Les Paul Custom, bolt-on neck, 22 fret bound fingerboard with pearloid block inlay, three-per-side tuners, aluminum nut, zero fret, two humbucker "Spektrum" pickups, black pickguard, tune-o-ma...

JOLANA BASORA Image

JOLANA BASORA

- full-depth archtop with single Venetian cutaway, three-ply binding top and bottom, bound cat's eye soundholes, set neck with bolt-through adjustment, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with triple pearl dot inlays, two-per-side tuners, si...

JOLANA DISKANT Image

JOLANA DISKANT

- full-depth archtop with single Venetian cutaway, top and back binding, bound cat's eye soundholes, set neck with bolt-through adjustment, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with slanted block inlays, three-per-side tuners, floating bridge...

JOLANA Basora 2 Image

JOLANA Basora 2

- similar to the Basora, except has different pickups, control assembly with one volume and four flip switches mounted to black plastic panel on lower bout, single diagonal pearl dot inlays, and the headstock narrows on top, bass equivalent...

JOLANA Diamant I Image

JOLANA Diamant I

- similar to the Diamant, except has a center peak headstock with block logo and a three-way switch, mfg. c. 1980s.

JOLANA Diskant 2 Image

JOLANA Diskant 2

- similar to the Diskant, except has single diagonal pearl dot inlays, a narrower headstock towards the top, and the rotary selector switch moved to lower horn, available in Red finish, mfg. 1965-67.

JOLANA BASSO IV Image

JOLANA BASSO IV

- offset single-cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 20-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, zero fret, four-on-one-side tuners, two single coil pickups, white pickguard, wooden floating bridge, through body stringing, volume/ to...

JOLANA DISCO Image

JOLANA DISCO

- symmetrical double-cutaway body, bolt-on neck, 22 fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, three-per-side tuners, fixed bridge, black pickguard, one oversized "Sapphir" humbucker pickup, volume/ tone contr...

JOLANA BASSO V Image

JOLANA BASSO V

- offset double-cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, zero fret, four-on-one-side tuners, floating bridge, two single coil pickups with silver sparkle inserts, white pickguard, volume con...

JOLANA GALAXIS Image

JOLANA GALAXIS

- offset double-cutaway body, bolt-on neck, 21 fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, six-on-one-side tuners, floating bridge, vibrato tailpiece, white or black pickguard, two oversized "Sapphir" humbuckin...

JOLANA GRAZIELLA Image

JOLANA GRAZIELLA

- thinline archtop, double cutaway, three-ply laminated beech top, top and back binding, bound soundholes, bolt-on beech neck, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, aluminum nut, zero fret, six-on-one-side tuners, floati...

JOLANA HURRICANE Image

JOLANA HURRICANE

- offset double-cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, 20 fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, zero fret, six-on-one-side tuners, vibrato tailpiece, three single coil pickups, black pickguard, volume/ tone controls, five flip switches, chrome...

JOLANA BASSO IX Image

JOLANA BASSO IX

- symmetrical rhomboid body, bolt-on neck, 20-fret European walnut fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, zero fret, two-per-side tuners, two single coil pickups, two-piece white pickguard, floating bridge, volume control, three-position rotary...

JOLANA IRIS Image

JOLANA IRIS

- single cutaway body copy of Fender Telecaster Thinline, with decorative soundhole, bolt-on neck, 21 fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, six-on-one-side tuners, floating bridge, vibrato tailpiece, black pickguar...

JOLANA KOLOR Image

JOLANA KOLOR

- thinline archtop, double cutaway, one soundhole on top only, bound three-ply laminated beech top, bolt-on neck, 21-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, aluminum nut, zero fret, six-on-one-side tuners, floating bridge, trape...

JOLANA BASSO X Image

JOLANA BASSO X

- asymmetrical body, bolt-on neck, 20-fret bound European walnut fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, zero fret, two-per-side tuners, floating bridge, white pickguard, two single coil pickups with chrome covers, volume/tone controls, three-pos...

JOLANA JANTAR Image

JOLANA JANTAR

- offset double-cutaway body with sharp point on bottom, bolt-on neck, 22 fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, three-per-side tuners, one humbucking pickup, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, volume/tone control...

JOLANA MARINA Image

JOLANA MARINA

- full-depth archtop with single Venetian cutaway, three-ply binding top and bottom, bound cat's eye soundholes, set neck with bolt-through adjustment, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with triple pearl dot inlays, three-per-side tuners,...

JOLANA D-BASS Image

JOLANA D-BASS

- copy of Rickenbacker 4001. Neck-through construction, bound top, 20-fret bound fingerboard with pearl block inlay, zero fret, two-per-side tuners, black or white pickguard, P-and J-style pickups, fixed bridge, four controls (two v, two to...

JOLANA Marina 2 Image

JOLANA Marina 2

- similar to the Marina, except has the pushbutton controls mounted on the lower horn, single dot fingerboard inlays, and a headstock that narrows at the top, available in Red finish, mfg. 1965-67.

JOLANA DIAMANT Image

JOLANA DIAMANT

- single-cutaway body, bolt-on neck, 20-fret bound fingerboard with pearloid block inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, two-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, black pickguard, two humbucker "Spektrum" pickups, volume...

JOLANA ONYX Image

JOLANA ONYX

- single cutaway body copy of Gibson Sonex, bolt-on neck, 22 fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, three-per-side tuners, black pickguard, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two humbucking pickups, volume/tone c...

JOLANA DISCO Image

JOLANA DISCO

- offset double-cutaway body copy of Gibson RD, bolt-on neck, 21-fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, four-on-one-side tuners, fixed bridge, black pickguard, two oversized "Sapphir" humbucking pickups, v...

JOLANA NEOTON Image

JOLANA NEOTON

- full-depth archtop with single Venetian cutaway, three-ply binding top and bottom, bound cat's eye soundholes, set neck with bolt-through adjustment, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with slanted block inlays, three-per-side tuners, two...

JOLANA PROXIMA Image

JOLANA PROXIMA

- similar to the Galaxis, except has pickups mounted to the body without apickguard, two knobs (v, tone), and a three-position switch, available in Red, Black, or Blue finish, mfg. c. 1980s.

JOLANA GALAXIS Image

JOLANA GALAXIS

- offset double-cutaway body, bolt-on neck, 21-fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, zero fret, four-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, floating bridge, white or black pickguard, two oversized "Sapphir" humbucking pickups, four...

JOLANA RUBIN Image

JOLANA RUBIN

- similar to the Kolor, except has a bound rosewood or stained beech fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, and Alnico pickups, mfg. 1973-79.

JOLANA STAR Image

JOLANA STAR

- offset double-cutaway alder body, glued-in maple neck with non-adjustable truss-rod, 20-fret beech or maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, zero fret, three-per-side tuners, primitive vibrato tailpiece, wooden floating bridge with metal...

JOLANA IRIS Image

JOLANA IRIS

- single cutaway body with decorative soundhole, bolt-on neck, 20 fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, four-on-one-side tuners, floating bridge, black pickguard, two single coil AlNiCo pickups, volume/ tone contro...

JOLANA SPECIAL Image

JOLANA SPECIAL

- similar to the Tornado, except has one soundhole on top only, a squared-off headstock, simplified pickguard assembly, four controls (two v, two tone), four flip switches, available in Two-Tone Red Sunburst, mfg. 1970-73.

JOLANA Star I Image

JOLANA Star I

- similar to the Star, except has six-on-one-side tuners and a white plastic tuner cover, imported to UK as Futurama II, mfg. 1961-62.

JOLANA JANTAR Image

JOLANA JANTAR

- offset double-cutaway body with sharp point on bottom, bolt-on neck, 20-fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, aluminum nut, zero fret, two-per-side tuners, P- and J-style pickups, fixed bridge, three controls (two v, tone), three-positio...

JOLANA STUDIO Image

JOLANA STUDIO

- thinline archtop, double cutaway, one bound soundhole on top only, bound top, bolt-on neck, 4/2-per-side tuners, 21-fret bound rosewood or stained beech fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, aluminum nut, zero fret, two-piece black pickguard...

JOLANA Star III Image

JOLANA Star III

- offset double-cutaway alder body, bolt-on neck, 21-fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, zero fret, six-on-one-side tuners, vibrato tailpiece, white pickguard, three single coil pickups, volume/ tone controls, three flip switches, chrome...

JOLANA TORNADO Image

JOLANA TORNADO

- thinline archtop, double cutaway, three-ply laminated beech top, binding top and bottom, bolt-on beech neck, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, aluminum nut, zero fret, bound soundholes, six-on-one-side tuners, floa...

JOLANA Star V Image

JOLANA Star V

- similar to the Star I, except has a bolt-on neck with adjustable truss-rod, rosewood fingerboard, body shape slightly rounder, upgraded vibrato, four-position rotary selector switch, and a top mounted jack, imported to UK as "Futuram...

JOLANA KOLORBAS Image

JOLANA KOLORBAS

- thinline archtop, double cutaway, one soundhole on top only, bound three-ply laminated beech top, bolt-on neck, 20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, aluminum nut, zero fret, four-on-one-side tuners, floating bridge, trap...

JOLANA Star VII Image

JOLANA Star VII

- offset double-cutaway poplar body, bolt-on maple neck, 20-fret European walnut fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, zero fret, six-on-one-side tuners, vibrato tailpiece, white pickguard, two single coil pickups, volume/ tone controls, four-p...

JOLANA PAMPERO Image

JOLANA PAMPERO

- thinline archtop, double cutaway, three-ply laminated beech top, binding top and bottom, bolt-on beech neck, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, aluminum nut, zero fret, bound soundholes, four-on-one-side tuners, chr...