Dynacord Cora 1965-1966

In the mid-1960s, Dynacord wanted to expand its reputation in the professional audio world to instrument building and launched a small series of experimental models. The Cora was the flagship of that series, and only about one hundred examples were built in 1965 and 1966, around thirty of which in this striking red and gold finish. The gracefully shaped tubular frame and wooden body give the guitar a look that was unparalleled at the time.

 For the construction, the West German company Dynacord collaborated with Hopf and Welson, while Schaller provided the hardware design and Dynacord developed the electronics itself. This resulted in a wooden body, a large laminated maple neck with offset dot inlays and a zero fret, and a black headstock with six individual tuners. The three GTA 3 single-coil pickups can each be individually switched and adjusted for tone and volume, controlled by a circuit board that was a pioneering design for electric guitars at the time. The Schaller vibrato system with a tremolo arm completes the package. 

Despite its distinctive design, the Cora is a surprisingly playable guitar with a direct attack and a comfortable neck. Due to its extremely limited production run, only a few examples are produced worldwide each year, making this instrument a highly collectible piece from the short but influential period when Dynacord dared to push the boundaries of guitar design. This Dynacord, serial number 2720178, has playwear on the body, neck, and hardware, and a broken-off nut. The guitar has the original DIN 5-pin jack connection. One pickup is known to have been rewound, but the guitar is otherwise original.