I’m beginning my search for a bouzouki for my brother as a gift on his birthday which is a few months away.
He is an accomplished musician, particularly stringed instruments, so it can’t be a piece of junk, but I can’t spend a fortune on one, so the price must be reasonable.
I’ve read a bit on these instruments but know very little about them. I figure someone on here surely can give me a bit of advice? (perhaps I can then persuade him to add IRTRAD to his accomplishments. I figure with his background in oldtime and bluegrass it won’t be much of a stretch…)
David Kilpatrick, a member of the cittern & bouzouki list cittern-L imports instruments made in Eastern Europe, which he then resells after a good setup, etc.
The price is good, and you’re far better off going through somone like him than buying a similar instrument from a place like Lark in the Morning which HASN’T had a luthier’s attention.
Quality control on these can vary, and I believe David screens out or mends the duds before sending them on.
I’ve never seen one, mind you, but he has sold to other members of cittern-L, and I’m aware of no complaints.
I’m not very happy with strings today, having just broke one of the A strings in a new $24 set. It quickly reminded me of one of the main reasons i changed from guitar to flute as my main instrument: no strings!
On the other hand, changing to a different string type of even a different pick shape is a quick and relatively cheap way to get a completely new sound. Cheaper than buying another flute or whistle. Most decent mandolin string sets are in the $10-$13 range. Picks go from 40 cents to 40 dollars…
[quote=“cowtime”]I’m beginning my search for a bouzouki for my brother as a gift on his birthday which is a few months away.
He is an accomplished musician, particularly stringed instruments, so it can’t be a piece of junk, but I can’t spend a fortune on one, so the price must be reasonable.
Off the rack, Trinity College bouzoukis can be OK. I have one which does the job although I own and prefer more expensive bouzoukis of course.
The things are important when choosing an instrument. First, if you can find an experienced player to help you bring him or her along to try the instruments. Price isn’t more tahn a rough guide and there are good and bad instruments made under the same brand and style. Second, get it set up by a competent luthier. This is pretty much essential. It can help if the person who helps you select is also the person who will do the set up or is at least familiar enough with task to know what can be done to improve the playability of the instrument.
Wow, thanks for all the suggestions. I’ll check them out.
brewerpaul- How handy is he?
You know, I’ve considered that. I get their catalogs. I just don’t know…
wombat-The things are important when choosing an instrument. First, if you can find an experienced player to help you bring him or her along to try the instruments. Price isn’t more tahn a rough guide and there are good and bad instruments made under the same brand and style. Second, get it set up by a competent luthier.
Joe Sobel who is in Johnson City is the only person I know of in this area that would be knowledgeable. Getting up with him would be a task in itself.
So, it sounds like I should be sure to get a “tweaked” bouzouki"?
If your brother is an accomplished player of stringed instruments, then he will know exactly what he’s looking for in terms of setup. I wouldn’t worry about that part of things. Any good guitar-and-mandolin luthier or repairman will be able to do whatever is necessary, assuming that you get an instrument with no major flaws.
I can second the mention of Doug Deiter, if you’re thinking of a custom made instrument. The people I know who have his instruments have only good things to say.
A comparitively scarce (and new) instrument like a bouzouki IS always going to represent a bigger investment than a guitar–$200 bucks buys you a lot of guitar these days, and $600 will buy a pretty good mandolin, but that really only gets you into the game when in comes to zouks.
The Romanian instruments David sells are solid, but be aware that for the price you’re probably compromising a bit on the tuning heads. All the ones he sells will work, and won’t be rusted, etc. (the way the one I bought from Shark in the Morning was), but it won’t be top of the line, either.
Freshwater bouzouki, 660mm scale, round sound hole, spruce top and sides/back of black walnut. 10+ years old.
This was an early purchase (via the unmentionable auction site) as I was first sampling CBOM instruments…have moved to OM for the shorter scale, so this needs a home.
Zouk sounds great, and I’ve worked with a luthier on the setup so that it is now quite playable, good action, loud and thrummy.
It has a crack in the top that was professionally repaired (with cleats) prior to my ownership of the instrument. It has been played hard, apparently, as it has pick wear below the sound hole and the finish has a lot of checking, mostly on the headstock. A great starter zouk (with richer sound than a brand new one) or good for taking travelling, camping, parking lot playing, when you want to leave your more expensive zouk at home.
Questions welcome. I’m working on getting some pics to post.
Asking $425 plus postage.
