Last night, I had the pleasure to watch Bohola perform (www.bohola.com). One of the instruments was a Dordan, also called a Bouzar. Guitar shaped and 8 stringed, it is a bass bouzouki/guitar hybrid, It is supposedly a new instrument and only a few exist - one for Pat Broaders of Bohola, one other for Ciaran Curran of Altan and one for Andy Irvine
I think Andy Irvine invented this with Sobell round 1995:
"Rather than have a very large tear drop shaped body, I opted for the guitar shape which is easier to hold. A pity in a way because people who do not know me think I'm playing a guitar."
Sobell continues to offer this model, now priced just under 5000 pounds without case.
Many other luthiers offer guitar shaped bouzoukis, it's not really rare to see.
Here in Tassie, bouzouki tom makes some mean sounding instruments in the guitar shape.
He uses some great wood too; King Billy Pine which is highly prized. Also some beaut mandolins. His finishing is equal to the sound the instruments produce.
That guy Pat in Bohola used to play a different version of the instrument, with a larger than normal bouzouki body. But he told me during a concert break a few months ago that the new guitar-shaped instrument is easier to work with. I think this particular instrument has a few more frets than the normal bouzouki as well--it is pitched lower, and not just a guitar-shaped zouk.
It does lend a nice sound to the group's overall mix--the lower tones complement the fiddle/accordion lead well.
I don't know how "new" this concept is as Lloyd Loar had a guitar based mandocello in the '20s (the H-5) and Tim O'Brien has been playing this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/nugget/nuggetarchive11.html) Octave Mandolin for several years now.
I know a number of players who have taken a guitar and made them into coursed instruments. A similar idea for mandolin has been around almost 100 years.
That is, in fact, simply a guitar in the old Spanish style, 16th/17th century. They originally developed the waist to make them . . . easier to hold. There is nothing new under the sun.
Is it a guitar shaped 'zouk, or a double strung tenor guitar, or a waisted mando, or a 12 string guitar less the bass courses?
Really, they're all just a box with a stick glued on and however many strings. Just about every possible combination of shape and number of strings was exhausted centuries ago and trying to think of each combination as a unique, named instrument is a way to madness, especially in those cases where the only descernable difference is the tuning.
Pat Broaders is also one hell of an uilleann piper, although he does not play pipes with bohola. Those who are curious about his piping or who just want to hear some great ballad singing can see him along with singer/guitarist Jimmy Moore most weeknights at Kitty O'Shea's, a pub located on the ground floor of the Chicago Hilton on South Michigan Avenue. Call ahead to be sure.
BTW I think the Guizouki he uses now is also a Joe Foley creation.
interesting instrument
interesting instrument
Last night, I had the pleasure to watch Bohola perform (www.bohola.com). One of the instruments was a Dordan, also called a Bouzar. Guitar shaped and 8 stringed, it is a bass bouzouki/guitar hybrid, It is supposedly a new instrument and only a few exist - one for Pat Broaders of Bohola, one other for Ciaran Curran of Altan and one for Andy Irvine
I say check it out
http://www.maartinallcock.com/bouzar.htm
# Posted on December 6th 2005 by bobgordon
Re: interesting instrument
I think Andy Irvine invented this with Sobell round 1995:
"Rather than have a very large tear drop shaped body, I opted for the guitar shape which is easier to hold. A pity in a way because people who do not know me think I'm playing a guitar."
Sobell continues to offer this model, now priced just under 5000 pounds without case.
Many other luthiers offer guitar shaped bouzoukis, it's not really rare to see.
# Posted on December 6th 2005 by ecidralla
Re: interesting instrument
Here in Tassie, bouzouki tom makes some mean sounding instruments in the guitar shape.
He uses some great wood too; King Billy Pine which is highly prized. Also some beaut mandolins. His finishing is equal to the sound the instruments produce.
Brianx
# Posted on December 6th 2005 by briantheflute
Re: interesting instrument
That guy Pat in Bohola used to play a different version of the instrument, with a larger than normal bouzouki body. But he told me during a concert break a few months ago that the new guitar-shaped instrument is easier to work with. I think this particular instrument has a few more frets than the normal bouzouki as well--it is pitched lower, and not just a guitar-shaped zouk.
It does lend a nice sound to the group's overall mix--the lower tones complement the fiddle/accordion lead well.
# Posted on December 6th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: interesting instrument, the Gouzouki!
Hey Bob, what about the Gouzouki?
http://%20www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/5906
# Posted on December 6th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: interesting instrument
I don't know how "new" this concept is as Lloyd Loar had a guitar based mandocello in the '20s (the H-5) and Tim O'Brien has been playing this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/nugget/nuggetarchive11.html) Octave Mandolin for several years now.
I know a number of players who have taken a guitar and made them into coursed instruments. A similar idea for mandolin has been around almost 100 years.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com/dec05/triplets.html
# Posted on December 6th 2005 by mikeyes
Re: interesting instrument
That is, in fact, simply a guitar in the old Spanish style, 16th/17th century. They originally developed the waist to make them . . . easier to hold. There is nothing new under the sun.
Is it a guitar shaped 'zouk, or a double strung tenor guitar, or a waisted mando, or a 12 string guitar less the bass courses?
Really, they're all just a box with a stick glued on and however many strings. Just about every possible combination of shape and number of strings was exhausted centuries ago and trying to think of each combination as a unique, named instrument is a way to madness, especially in those cases where the only descernable difference is the tuning.
KFG
# Posted on December 6th 2005 by KFG
Re: interesting instrument
Pat Broaders' earlier "Dordan" was built by Joe Foley and is a tremendous instrument.
It's interesting that he's changed over to a guitar-bodied instrument. Maybe I can talk him out of that Foley... <GGG>
Pat's a terrific player and singer, no matter what he plays, it's fun and inspiring to hear him.
There is also another term in use for very Large Bouzoukis --
"blarge". Cute.
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on December 7th 2005 by stv culchie
Re: interesting instrument
Anyone confused? Then visit this page - "How to Tell Mandolins, Citterns, Mandolas, Bouzoukis, etc. Apart":
http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/cittern.html
# Posted on December 7th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: interesting instrument
bit more info for you
http://www.chinatogalway.com/bouzouki%20style%20guitar%20shaped.htm
see him play it here
http://www.chinatogalway.com/video%20page%202.htm
# Posted on December 7th 2005 by KS
Re: interesting instrument
Thanks for the link Ptarmigan great info.This will clear up a lot of the grey areas.
# Posted on December 11th 2005 by Dphil
Re: interesting instrument
Pat Broaders is also one hell of an uilleann piper, although he does not play pipes with bohola. Those who are curious about his piping or who just want to hear some great ballad singing can see him along with singer/guitarist Jimmy Moore most weeknights at Kitty O'Shea's, a pub located on the ground floor of the Chicago Hilton on South Michigan Avenue. Call ahead to be sure.
BTW I think the Guizouki he uses now is also a Joe Foley creation.
# Posted on January 30th 2006 by Hanley