There's a relatively new U.S. maker, Herb Taylor, who is making some fantastic instruments for reasonable prices. I have one of his mandolins, and it's very nice! He was one of the luthiers at last year's Zoukfest, and he'll be there again this year. Although, his instruments are good enough, and he's got enough interest in them these days, that his prices are rising.
I'm looking for something on the cheaper side, though...preferably under $600. I found some on mandolincafe.com, but they were all brand names I was unfamiliar with...
£300 = $600 and these days you are unlikley to get a hand made one unfortunetly
Foley and Sobel are over $4000 While Crumps are about $2500. So getting one in the made usa seems the best bet.
I have played a Petersen bouzouki for the past 12 years and I love it. It's quilted maple back and sides with a western red cedar top. It's a real cannon good for session work or performance. I installed a Fishman soundboard pickup. they are usually used for harp or other soundboard instruments but it works well in this application. Try this link http://www.petersenstringshop.com
Researching for years but only just decided to buy one.....?
Well, you should know all this stuff already, especially if you're on the internet to find all this stuff out.
BUT
for my five bob's worth ( which is about half a dollar at current exchange rates ) you could do worse than get a Trinity College, fit a Red Henry-pattern bridge and a heavier tailpiece (try to get hold of a brass one if possible ) and let the instrument mature as you gain experience. The two modifications I suggest will improve the volume and tone of what is already a well-made factory instrument, with good quality control and design, while you learn and save for a higher grade one.
Waiting list for Sobels has been closed for the present, he has about three years work ahead of him and didn't want to commit himself further.
And we haven't even got into the finer points of argueing about bouzouki/guizouki/octave mandolin/mandola, scale lengths and string weights,floating bridges or pin bridges, GDae or GDad, spruce or cedar tops, what wood for the ribs and back........
Incidentally, Stefan Sobell's stringing of choice is with the bass string on the bass side for octaves. It also just occurred to me that he's about my age, another reason why he might not want to make long-term commitments for supplying instruments, or maybe just wants to slow down a bit in his maturity.
I just met with Joe Foley and ordered a bouzouki, will take about a year to complete. I enjoyed meeting with him, nice fellow. I also have a carved top bouzouki that Lawrence Nyberg made for me. Well made instrument and I found him to be a pleasure to work with. You can check Lawrence's work at http://www.guitarmaker.ca/ Friend of mine has a Trinity College instrument and it is a good workhorse for him. Lots of good builders out there, just have to search around. But I don't know any place where you are going to find a quality instrument for the price you are looking to spend unless you find that great used deal. Good luck!
HighOnCraic, I looked at mandolincafe classifieds. Most of the stuff in there listed as "bouzoukis" are really octave mandolins. The shorter scale of those will not give you the nice jangly sound. The longer strings resonate more, and in the case of bouzoukis, often hit their paired twin (or octave) string when struck, which gives a much brighter, distinctive sound.
If your budget is $600, you're most likely not going to find a hand built instrument unless you're very lucky, or willing to wait until the right one comes along.
I started on a Trinity zouk, and it was a decent place to start. A lot of the pacrim (Asian) zouks are built in the same shops, and will have exactly the same specs (Trinity, Johnson, and from the looks of it, probably the Ozarks and Monroes). If you get one of those, it will at least get you going, and if it sticks, you can usually get close to what you paid for it back when you sell it. The other option would be to wait a while, and save up somewhere in the range of $1500 (or more), and get a hand-built one from a trusted luthier.
Great! Thanks for all the suggestions. Sounds like I'm probably best off getting a Trinity College for starting out due to my budget...
And to answer Guernsey Pete, I've just been on the look-out for a good deal, so haven't purchased one yet. Plus, practicing my fiddle keeps me busy enough usually. Just want to try something different.
Purchasing a Bouzouki...
Purchasing a Bouzouki...
I'm a 18 year old fiddle player who has been researching bouzoukis for years, and I plan on purchasing one soon.
I've been reccommended Foley and Stefan Sobel instruments by a professional level bouzouki player, but they are a bit out of my price range.
Also, I know people who have Trinity College bouzoukis, with varying opinions of how good they are.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, as well as any postings of anyone selling bouzoukis, or who knows of good deals.
Thanks,
-Tom
# Posted on March 21st 2008 by HighOnCraic
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
Try researching (and shopping for a used bouzouki) on: mandolincafe.com
I'm sure there's a middle ground between Foley and Sobell (these are among the best, along with Crump) and Trinity.
# Posted on March 21st 2008 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
http://www.pwcrumpco.com
Made in California.
# Posted on March 21st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
There's a relatively new U.S. maker, Herb Taylor, who is making some fantastic instruments for reasonable prices. I have one of his mandolins, and it's very nice! He was one of the luthiers at last year's Zoukfest, and he'll be there again this year. Although, his instruments are good enough, and he's got enough interest in them these days, that his prices are rising.
http://www.herbtaylor.com/instruments/bouzouki/
http://www.zoukfest.com/
# Posted on March 21st 2008 by Reverend
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
Thanks for all the input!
I'm looking for something on the cheaper side, though...preferably under $600. I found some on mandolincafe.com, but they were all brand names I was unfamiliar with...
Any ideas for that?
# Posted on March 22nd 2008 by HighOnCraic
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
£300 = $600 and these days you are unlikley to get a hand made one unfortunetly
Foley and Sobel are over $4000 While Crumps are about $2500. So getting one in the made usa seems the best bet.
# Posted on March 22nd 2008 by bazouki dave
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
Tom,
I have played a Petersen bouzouki for the past 12 years and I love it. It's quilted maple back and sides with a western red cedar top. It's a real cannon good for session work or performance. I installed a Fishman soundboard pickup. they are usually used for harp or other soundboard instruments but it works well in this application. Try this link
http://www.petersenstringshop.com
Good luck Wayne
# Posted on March 22nd 2008 by Wayne and Sue
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
Researching for years but only just decided to buy one.....?
Well, you should know all this stuff already, especially if you're on the internet to find all this stuff out.
BUT
for my five bob's worth ( which is about half a dollar at current exchange rates ) you could do worse than get a Trinity College, fit a Red Henry-pattern bridge and a heavier tailpiece (try to get hold of a brass one if possible ) and let the instrument mature as you gain experience. The two modifications I suggest will improve the volume and tone of what is already a well-made factory instrument, with good quality control and design, while you learn and save for a higher grade one.
Waiting list for Sobels has been closed for the present, he has about three years work ahead of him and didn't want to commit himself further.
# Posted on March 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
And we haven't even got into the finer points of argueing about bouzouki/guizouki/octave mandolin/mandola, scale lengths and string weights,floating bridges or pin bridges, GDae or GDad, spruce or cedar tops, what wood for the ribs and back........
Incidentally, Stefan Sobell's stringing of choice is with the bass string on the bass side for octaves. It also just occurred to me that he's about my age, another reason why he might not want to make long-term commitments for supplying instruments, or maybe just wants to slow down a bit in his maturity.
# Posted on March 23rd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
I just met with Joe Foley and ordered a bouzouki, will take about a year to complete. I enjoyed meeting with him, nice fellow. I also have a carved top bouzouki that Lawrence Nyberg made for me. Well made instrument and I found him to be a pleasure to work with. You can check Lawrence's work at http://www.guitarmaker.ca/ Friend of mine has a Trinity College instrument and it is a good workhorse for him. Lots of good builders out there, just have to search around. But I don't know any place where you are going to find a quality instrument for the price you are looking to spend unless you find that great used deal. Good luck!
# Posted on March 23rd 2008 by Ham
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
HighOnCraic, I looked at mandolincafe classifieds. Most of the stuff in there listed as "bouzoukis" are really octave mandolins. The shorter scale of those will not give you the nice jangly sound. The longer strings resonate more, and in the case of bouzoukis, often hit their paired twin (or octave) string when struck, which gives a much brighter, distinctive sound.
If your budget is $600, you're most likely not going to find a hand built instrument unless you're very lucky, or willing to wait until the right one comes along.
I started on a Trinity zouk, and it was a decent place to start. A lot of the pacrim (Asian) zouks are built in the same shops, and will have exactly the same specs (Trinity, Johnson, and from the looks of it, probably the Ozarks and Monroes). If you get one of those, it will at least get you going, and if it sticks, you can usually get close to what you paid for it back when you sell it. The other option would be to wait a while, and save up somewhere in the range of $1500 (or more), and get a hand-built one from a trusted luthier.
# Posted on March 27th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Purchasing a Bouzouki...
Great! Thanks for all the suggestions. Sounds like I'm probably best off getting a Trinity College for starting out due to my budget...
And to answer Guernsey Pete, I've just been on the look-out for a good deal, so haven't purchased one yet. Plus, practicing my fiddle keeps me busy enough usually. Just want to try something different.
Thanks for all the input!
# Posted on April 8th 2008 by HighOnCraic