can someone recommend a bouzouki maker?
There are many bouzouki makers out there and a lot of the makers are pretty good. Where do you live? How much do you want to pay? You could start by looking at the makers Han Speek has listed on his web site. He has links to the makers’ web sites.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~hspeek/bouzouki/
You could also join the cittern Yahoo group. It’s for citterns, bouzoukis and octave mandolins.
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/cittern/?yguid=89982506
I play the Ozark 2222 Flatback Bouzouki you can get it from http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/mandolinfamily/index.asp
Read http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/7048/comments as this will also answer your question.
Cheers
Ferg
Seeing that picture makes me wonder. Do people manage to play fast reels and such on the bouzouki, or do they tend to play more accompaniment on them? I think I’d be tempted to try some kind of tuning in 4ths.
My GF has a Fylde long-scale zouk that’s not so much a musical instrument as a force of nature. Joe Foley (Dublin) and Stephen Owsley Smith (New Mexico) are also top-notch makers.
Yes, people can and do play melody on them. I know of one fellow who’s quite impressive at it. He tunes his like a tenor banjo, which is what he started out on. It also happens to be a Foley, and I approve. 
some links and eye candy from Mandolin Cafe:
http://mandolincafe.com/archives/builders/octave.html
Some lovely instruments, there. You’ll notice that the Foley pictured has a short-scale neck, closer to a cittern’s usual span. As I recall, he makes his 'zouks either long- or short-scale according to his client’s wishes. Most 'zouks I’ve seen are long-scale, recalling their origins in the Greek instrument. For what it’s worth, I understand there are makers who make long-scale citterns, as well. I haven’t seen one up-close and personal.
Melody can be played on the bouzouki. However, Longscale are much harder. If you have large hands it may not be a problem. If you have small-medium hands a short scale, or octave mandolin may be better.
Brian Taheny (in Toronto) plays tunes on a full length four-course bouzouki. Other players who have CDs either use five-course instruments or a shorter scale-about 22". If you are going for the absolute cheapest instrument, I’d recommend Troubadour instruments from David Kilpatrick. The instruments are made in Romania to his specifications.
I have seen that brand, (troubador) but have never played them. Are they decent? How do they compare to trinity and the likes?
I once used GDAE tuning with Redwing Bouzouki Medium Gauge Octave Strung Set Strings
Gauges:
E .012/.012
A .016/.016
D .013/.026
G .036/.036
But now use GDAD tuning with D’Addario J81 - Medium Bouzouki Strings
D 0.011/0.011
A 0.016/0.016
D 0.028/0.028
G 0.04/0.04
I only play chords on the Bouzouki.
Cheers
Ferg
If I were to really get serious about the bouzouki as a melody instrument, I’d want a short-scale 10-string one tuned GDAda. Actually a 10-string mandola would be more like it. Probably a mandolin would be best of all. Hey, I’ve got one of those! Cool.
I play mainly accompaniment on the zouk. I’ve kind of developed my own style, involving countermelodies, shifting bass lines, implied chords, rumor, hearsay, and innuendo. It’s based on what I used to think Alec Finn did.
Alec Finn played a 3 (double) stringed bouzouki, if I remember right. I keep mine tuned to ADAD. Some prefer ADAE. The neck length on mine is the same as a standard guitar. Jigs and hornpipes are easy to play melody on, but I often keep mine capo’d up 2-3 frets, sometimes 4 or 5. Certain reels fit real well on this tuning, for playing melodies.
I couldn’t find one back in the early 80’s so I made one (center). I styled it after the Gibson mandos except it has X-bracing and round sound hole..
May be better?
I have small hands and just the merest hint of arthritis… 'zouk is out of the question. Even a standard scale tenor banjo gives me probs. Shame, I love the sound of bazouki. 
I haven’t actually played one. I based my recommendation on what I have heard and on the fact that David Kilpatrick seems to be careful that what he sells is worth the money. I can’t compare them with Trinity but I don’t care much for Trinity instruments and they are more expensive that Troubadour.
[quote="SteveK"but I don’t care much for Trinity instruments and they are more expensive that Troubadour.[/quote]
I agree, I dont care for the trinity instruments. I just have playe one and wanted to compare
Modern Greek players mostly tune in 4ths but down two whole steps—like the top four courses of a twelve string guitar.
I tune my bouzoukis G, D, A, D and just slightly adapt DADGAD fingerings for chords and mandolin fingerings for melody.
Trinity instruments are fine as a first instrument if you want to find out if 'zouk is for you. But you will soon want to move on.
I play a Graham McDonald bouzouki which, for buyers in the States, would be incredibly good value for money. He’s based in Canberra. Davey Stuart in New Zealand also has a great reputation. I play a Fylde mandolin. I’d be happy to trust their 'zouks but, being English made, you pay more for what you get.
I cannot say enough about my 10-string bouzouki by Phil Crump.
http://www.pwcrumpco.com/
Photos of mine are viewable on my site:
www.tommyswirled.com
(click on music, then instruments, and scroll down)
It never fails to get positive visual and sound comments at every gig I play.
Last night we had microphone trouble. Despite having to sing into only one microphone and let the bouzouki go entirely un-miced or un-plugged in, it was entirely audible the whole night.
An amazing instrument.
Mine is a B-III with 10 strings, redwood top, bubinga body, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, Allen tailpiece, Planet Waves AutoTrim tuners, built-in L.R. Baggs iMix stereo pickup, and I use Thomastik-Infeld Flatwound strings.