New instrument on the block, the 'Gazuki' is a jumbo guitar body with bouzouki neck, details at www.gazuki.co.uk I can send one on a 2-week free trial inc ROI plays well and has built in pick-up (John Tams just bought one 'fantastic instrument'). Thanks for reading.
Phil Williams
Ok! but why bother?
Presumably it sounds much like a bouzouki but perhaps with a little more bottom (and a great big heavy to cart around on the tube body). Why not just play a bouzouki?
Locally someone has a banjo but with six strings in the manner of the six string devil (SSD).
People say , "Brilliant! Just play as if it's a SSD and wotteffah you play with sound like a banjo". But it doesn't work like that!
When it is played it sounds horrid, players don't know if it's a SSD or banjo resulting in a funny liitle gimmick.
Perhaps you could work on some other hybrids: Pipes with a trombone, mandolin and cheese grater (oh! it's already been done!), flute and a pair of NHS aluminium crutches, bodhran and lampshade...
Why not? It's easier to hold, for one. And Andy Irvine plays one, so it must be good.
It needn't be much bigger and heavier than a bouzouki. I built one based on a 1930s Washburn parlour guitar. Not wishing to blow my own trumpet - it's by no means a perfect instrument - but it certainly has the edge over most 'conventional' bouzoukis as far as the bass end is concerned. Not everyone wants that, but some people do.
"Locally someone has a banjo but with six strings in the manner of the six string devil (SSD)."
Guitar-banjos are another case altogether, yhaalhouse. They are designed with the sole purpose of making as much noise as possible. If you can't be a *good* guitarist, you can at least be a *loud* one to compensate.
"Guitar-banjos are another case altogether, yhaalhouse. They are designed with the sole purpose of making as much noise as possible. If you can't be a *good* guitarist, you can at least be a *loud* one to compensate."
Some justification can be made for guitar-banjos - they have been put to good use by a few in the trad jazz world - but I note that they are not loud enough for some, as 12-string versions are available from Deering and Goldtone.
I noticed some mention of 6 string banjos above. Some time ago I came across this photo of Django. It shows him playing a 6 string banjo, and it was a sometime before the caravan fire so he's using his four fingers. http://www.djangobooks.com/wiki/images/f/f7/Django_Reinhardt.jpg
Allow me to chip in as a maker of rather nice Guitar Bouzouki's. Both instruments have pro's and cons, the pros of the Guitar Bouzouki are more sustain and a fuller bass end than a standard Arch top bouzouki but the latter has more resonance and often more punch.
This led me to my current design which has quite a bit of both - the top has an arch down the centre so the design falls between the two. So far I have only made fixed bridge version but a floating bridge version is certainly worth a try too.
Ha! Well I'm sure Phil's instrument is fine. They look amazing value. I'm afraid I can't compete with the far east for price. Luckily I can when it comes to quality.
Re slipping pear-shaped 'zouks; a strap-button on the heel of the neck ( NOT behind the nut ) and wear it, and it'll stay in place.
A friend of mine was inspired, he claims, by my 'zouk playing, then went and bought a Hathway guizouki with fixed bridge and unison stringing, as opposed to my floating bridge and octave stringing.
Ah, well, whatever......
Thanks Nigel!, The Gazuki is competition to your instruments in rather the same way as a Nissan Micra is going to impact on the Bentley market! You'll get plenty of mileage out of it, but never in such fine style
Phil Williams
Guitar-bouzouki
Guitar-bouzouki
New instrument on the block, the 'Gazuki' is a jumbo guitar body with bouzouki neck, details at www.gazuki.co.uk I can send one on a 2-week free trial inc ROI plays well and has built in pick-up (John Tams just bought one 'fantastic instrument'). Thanks for reading.
Phil Williams
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by Phil Williams
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Ok! but why bother?
Presumably it sounds much like a bouzouki but perhaps with a little more bottom (and a great big heavy to cart around on the tube body). Why not just play a bouzouki?
Locally someone has a banjo but with six strings in the manner of the six string devil (SSD).
People say , "Brilliant! Just play as if it's a SSD and wotteffah you play with sound like a banjo". But it doesn't work like that!
When it is played it sounds horrid, players don't know if it's a SSD or banjo resulting in a funny liitle gimmick.
Perhaps you could work on some other hybrids: Pipes with a trombone, mandolin and cheese grater (oh! it's already been done!), flute and a pair of NHS aluminium crutches, bodhran and lampshade...
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by yhaalhouse
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Sobell and others have been making guitar-bodied bouzoukis for years.
here's a good picture of Andy Irvine with his one:
http://www.sobellinstruments.com/Portals/9/PageImages/news/18Oct06/News_clip_image014.jpg
It sounds beautiful
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by Bren
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
"Ok! but why bother?"
Why not? It's easier to hold, for one. And Andy Irvine plays one, so it must be good.
It needn't be much bigger and heavier than a bouzouki. I built one based on a 1930s Washburn parlour guitar. Not wishing to blow my own trumpet - it's by no means a perfect instrument - but it certainly has the edge over most 'conventional' bouzoukis as far as the bass end is concerned. Not everyone wants that, but some people do.
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
"Locally someone has a banjo but with six strings in the manner of the six string devil (SSD)."
Guitar-banjos are another case altogether, yhaalhouse. They are designed with the sole purpose of making as much noise as possible. If you can't be a *good* guitarist, you can at least be a *loud* one to compensate.
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
"It's easier to hold"....SOLD!
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
I think conventional bouzouki players used to stick all sorts of stuff on their bowlbacks and teardrops to stop them sliding off their thighs
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by Bren
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
"Guitar-banjos are another case altogether, yhaalhouse. They are designed with the sole purpose of making as much noise as possible. If you can't be a *good* guitarist, you can at least be a *loud* one to compensate."
Some justification can be made for guitar-banjos - they have been put to good use by a few in the trad jazz world - but I note that they are not loud enough for some, as 12-string versions are available from Deering and Goldtone.
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by will morgan
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Now I am afraid, very afraid
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by Bren
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
I find having my significant other on my knee keeps my bouzouki in place
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
I thought your bouzouki *was* your significant other, Dave.
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
ok my other significant other
# Posted on August 3rd 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
I noticed some mention of 6 string banjos above. Some time ago I came across this photo of Django. It shows him playing a 6 string banjo, and it was a sometime before the caravan fire so he's using his four fingers.
http://www.djangobooks.com/wiki/images/f/f7/Django_Reinhardt.jpg
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Allow me to chip in as a maker of rather nice Guitar Bouzouki's. Both instruments have pro's and cons, the pros of the Guitar Bouzouki are more sustain and a fuller bass end than a standard Arch top bouzouki but the latter has more resonance and often more punch.
This led me to my current design which has quite a bit of both - the top has an arch down the centre so the design falls between the two. So far I have only made fixed bridge version but a floating bridge version is certainly worth a try too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN16lL5lDE4&feature=channel_page
Here is the rather brilliant James Fagan playing mine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aaJitEFw68&feature=channel_page
Enjoy!
Nigel
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/guitar-bouzouki
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by NKForster
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
WOW. Amazing instrument. Fantastic player!
I want one!!!
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by Fishmonger
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Nice instruments Nigel. If they're the same price as Phil's then I'll have two.
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Ha! Well I'm sure Phil's instrument is fine. They look amazing value. I'm afraid I can't compete with the far east for price. Luckily I can when it comes to quality.
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by NKForster
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Re slipping pear-shaped 'zouks; a strap-button on the heel of the neck ( NOT behind the nut ) and wear it, and it'll stay in place.
A friend of mine was inspired, he claims, by my 'zouk playing, then went and bought a Hathway guizouki with fixed bridge and unison stringing, as opposed to my floating bridge and octave stringing.
Ah, well, whatever......
# Posted on August 12th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Obviously I meant not to put a strap behind the nut, not a strap-button.....
# Posted on August 12th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Thanks Nigel!, The Gazuki is competition to your instruments in rather the same way as a Nissan Micra is going to impact on the Bentley market! You'll get plenty of mileage out of it, but never in such fine style
Phil Williams
# Posted on August 13th 2009 by Phil Williams
Re: Guitar-bouzouki
Just done major update of the website with comments and more pics.
www.gazuki.co.uk
Phil
# Posted on August 19th 2009 by Phil Williams