bouzouki

flooter1979 · Post by **flooter1979** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:10 pm

can someone recommend a bouzouki maker?

SteveK · Post by **SteveK** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:21 pm

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/ci ... d=89982506

Fergmaun · Post by **Fergmaun** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:29 pm

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/d ... 8/comments as this will also answer your question.

Cheers

Ferg

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:37 pm

Fergmaun wrote:I play the Ozark 2222 Flatback Bouzouki...

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.

Ro3b · Post by **Ro3b** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:41 pm

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.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:57 pm

Darwin wrote:
Fergmaun wrote:I play the Ozark 2222 Flatback Bouzouki...
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.

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.

rh · Post by rh » Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:01 pm

some links and eye candy from Mandolin Cafe:
http://mandolincafe.com/archives/builders/octave.html

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:34 pm

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.

Celtic983 · Post by **Celtic983** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:53 pm

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.

SteveK · Post by **SteveK** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:44 pm

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.

http://www.troubadour.uk.com/mandozouki.html

Celtic983 · Post by **Celtic983** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:52 pm

I have seen that brand, (troubador) but have never played them. Are they decent? How do they compare to trinity and the likes?

Fergmaun · Post by **Fergmaun** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:47 pm

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

Ro3b · Post by **Ro3b** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:35 pm

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.

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:55 pm

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..

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:25 am

Celtic983 wrote: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.

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.