Hi,
I recently purchased a 12 string instrument at a thrift store for $25.00. I looked around and figured out that it's called a "Laud" or a Spanish Lute. Thats all I found on it though. Does anyone have any more information about this type of instrument? Does anyone know what it might be worth? There's no in prints, markings, or names on it. I plan on keeping it but I'd like to know if anyone has a good price range idea and maybe a little background info.

Here's some pictures:

http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l3...t=DSCF3193.jpg
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l3...t=DSCF3194.jpg
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l3...t=DSCF3195.jpg
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l3...t=DSCF3196.jpg
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l3...t=DSCF3197.jpg
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l3...t=DSCF3198.jpg
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l3...t=DSCF3199.jpg

well one thing i can say for sure is it needs some new string (preferably nylon) and a good cleaning on the fretboard hehe. it's one thing when the fretboard is caked with grime from your own sweat, it's totally gross when it's someone else's

is that residue from a sticker on the front also? and what's the "A Y" looking mark near the right edge in the first pic?

it also appears to be more of a vihuela style instrument made to look like a more traditional medieval lute. lutes normally have that same triangular teardrop shape as your instrument but one of the distinct qualities of a real lute is the rounded body.

vihuela's on the other hand almost look more like small scaled versions of modern day acoustic guitars, with an hourglass shape and flat back.

it's really hard to say what it's worth though, new lutes on ebay are selling around $500. i would have definitely picked that thing up for $25 at my local pawn shop of choice too hehe.

Well, most of whats on the fret board is just dust, luckily. lol There is some sticker residue from the price tag and the "A Y" is something else that the thrift store put on there. Nothing that can't be cleaned off though. Thanks for your help. One more question though, is there any way of knowing about how old it is?

wow that's some lame ass thrift store if they mark their stock like that. hehehe i hear alcohol works well for removing sticker residue. try rubbing the back a little first to make sure it doesn't react with the finish.

as for dating it, without names or anything i'd guess it was made in the 70s.

Ok, thanks. That thrift store is actually pretty awesome. They always have allot of good stuff in there. Yeah, they don't have the best way of marking prices but they have allot of stuff constantly coming it so they try to do the best they can without lagging behind, hehe. Good thing is, is that they don't even know what half the stuff they get is, so they give allot of bargains. But anyway, back on topic. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

it's all good. i remember seeing a hollow body gretsch at a store once. owner thought it was busted because it was missing a tuning peg or something equally minor. i didn't have cash on me and i had a bus to catch. next time i was in the store i noticed it behind the counter and asked about 'the brown guitar' and the reply with 'ooohhh... the gretsch".