Hi all,
I want to buy a good bouzouki in the price range of about €1300,-. I don't know if this is the right place to ask, but I hope someone could help me find or look for a good one (experience maybe?). Thanks in advance.
Greetz.
I've been thru this, but in the USA. There are lots of choices, esp. if you're willing to A) be patient and B) buy a used instrument.
Patience is required for a new one because luthiers work on Luthier Time, different from ordinary human time, and also because buying a nice used one takes time to find the right instrument at the right price.
I second the plug for Fylde. I play one of their mandolas and I've never looked back. And they don't pay me either (although if they'd like to start throwing me a little corporate sponsorship for plugging that'd be fine by me...)
Like stv culchie, I went through this about two years ago in the USA I finally decided to purchase one made by Phil Crump. It could be in your price range depending on options. stv culchie is right-on about luthier time though. I will say it was worth the wait. I was playing (tolerating is a better word) a Trinity College model before the Crump that was an OK starter instrument, but after a while it just didn't sound the way I wanted. The Crump instrument was exactly what I imaged a bouzouki should sound like. Beautiful sounding, wonderfully made and very playable.
Rob!!! Wow, I have a Crump B-II that I adore! Cooool.
Before that I had several others (from 'tolerate' to 'enjoy' in varying degrees), one of which was a Fylde Octavius. it was great good fun.
There are generally a couple nice octave mandolins/bouzoukis on that BigAuctionSite, and often a couple of good'n's on the Mandolin Cafe website.
If I were in the UK or Ireland, I'd try to have Joe Foley in Ireland build me one. I have played two of his and they are lovely.
For me, buying falls in two categories: A) shopping for what's out there to find out how they work and B) having one made to one's standards. I have the Crump, made my way, but I'm still terribly curious about what other instruments do.
Right now I'm very curious about the Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin, which is an F-bodied instrument with a 23" (I think) scale length. A lot of the mandolin crowd say that the MKs are pretty good instruments, and the OctMando only costs $1100 USD with a hard case. I really want to hear one! The idea of that F-style sound in a big one is pretty interesting.
The reason I suggested that you email me is that there are a numver of good zouk luthiers who have websites, and I think it would be tedious for everyone to start naming them here...
Stv, it is great to hear from another Crump bouzouki owner. Mine is a B-I.
I thought I might provide some links to lists of bouzouki makers. Two of them are not real current, but I know that many of the builders are still around.
I know that this whole business of selecting a builder/source can be overwhelming. Also, everyone has their own idea about what constitutes a good instrument. What is particularly difficult is that it is difficult for most people to get an opportunity to play and listen to a range of instruments. It is not like buying a guitar where you can go down to a store and try out a bunch of quality instruments. I ultimately decided based on price, number of courses, scale length, strung in unison, construction time, construction materials, appearance and the tone I heard on a CD (Michael Holmes of Dervish plays a Crump, and I liked the tone of the instrument). I think you need to decide what sort of instrument you want and that will help narrow down the builder list. If you get lucky, you might even be able to buy a used one. I saw a Foley on eBay two years ago that went for about $1700 US! Some builders even have stock available.
Certainly stv could undoubtly help you narrow down the list as well.
Buying a bouzouki
Buying a bouzouki
Hi all,
I want to buy a good bouzouki in the price range of about €1300,-. I don't know if this is the right place to ask, but I hope someone could help me find or look for a good one (experience maybe?). Thanks in advance.
Greetz.
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by Dark Raven
Re: Buying a bouzouki
I've been thru this, but in the USA. There are lots of choices, esp. if you're willing to A) be patient and B) buy a used instrument.
Patience is required for a new one because luthiers work on Luthier Time, different from ordinary human time, and also because buying a nice used one takes time to find the right instrument at the right price.
Email me
(No, I don't have one for sale! <GG>)
stv
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by stv culchie
Re: Buying a bouzouki
Hi Dark Raven, you could check out the instruments for sale on 'tradmusic.com' I believe there is one on there for sale.
The guy lives in Bristol, England. (no it's not me)
Good luck.
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by curlew
Re: Buying a bouzouki
check out Fyldeguitars.com, you can pick up a nice archtop for about that much (no I don't work for fylde, but I play one ), they're pretty OK!
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by zoukmike
Re: Buying a bouzouki
I second the plug for Fylde. I play one of their mandolas and I've never looked back. And they don't pay me either (although if they'd like to start throwing me a little corporate sponsorship for plugging that'd be fine by me...)
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by trickcyclist
Re: Buying a bouzouki
Like stv culchie, I went through this about two years ago in the USA I finally decided to purchase one made by Phil Crump. It could be in your price range depending on options. stv culchie is right-on about luthier time though. I will say it was worth the wait. I was playing (tolerating is a better word) a Trinity College model before the Crump that was an OK starter instrument, but after a while it just didn't sound the way I wanted. The Crump instrument was exactly what I imaged a bouzouki should sound like. Beautiful sounding, wonderfully made and very playable.
http://www.pwcrumpco.com/
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by rob zouk
Re: Buying a bouzouki
Rob!!! Wow, I have a Crump B-II that I adore! Cooool.
Before that I had several others (from 'tolerate' to 'enjoy' in varying degrees), one of which was a Fylde Octavius. it was great good fun.
There are generally a couple nice octave mandolins/bouzoukis on that BigAuctionSite, and often a couple of good'n's on the Mandolin Cafe website.
If I were in the UK or Ireland, I'd try to have Joe Foley in Ireland build me one. I have played two of his and they are lovely.
For me, buying falls in two categories: A) shopping for what's out there to find out how they work and B) having one made to one's standards. I have the Crump, made my way, but I'm still terribly curious about what other instruments do.
Right now I'm very curious about the Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin, which is an F-bodied instrument with a 23" (I think) scale length. A lot of the mandolin crowd say that the MKs are pretty good instruments, and the OctMando only costs $1100 USD with a hard case. I really want to hear one! The idea of that F-style sound in a big one is pretty interesting.
The reason I suggested that you email me is that there are a numver of good zouk luthiers who have websites, and I think it would be tedious for everyone to start naming them here...
stv
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by stv culchie
Re: Buying a bouzouki
Stv, it is great to hear from another Crump bouzouki owner. Mine is a B-I.
I thought I might provide some links to lists of bouzouki makers. Two of them are not real current, but I know that many of the builders are still around.
I know that this whole business of selecting a builder/source can be overwhelming. Also, everyone has their own idea about what constitutes a good instrument. What is particularly difficult is that it is difficult for most people to get an opportunity to play and listen to a range of instruments. It is not like buying a guitar where you can go down to a store and try out a bunch of quality instruments. I ultimately decided based on price, number of courses, scale length, strung in unison, construction time, construction materials, appearance and the tone I heard on a CD (Michael Holmes of Dervish plays a Crump, and I liked the tone of the instrument). I think you need to decide what sort of instrument you want and that will help narrow down the builder list. If you get lucky, you might even be able to buy a used one. I saw a Foley on eBay two years ago that went for about $1700 US! Some builders even have stock available.
Certainly stv could undoubtly help you narrow down the list as well.
http://www.tradmusic.com/luthierinfoinst.asp?instrument=Bouzouki&country=%25&Submit2=Search
http://www.greenmanhumming.com/GMHPlinks.html
http://home.hccnet.nl/h.speek/bouzouki/makers.html
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by rob zouk
Re: Buying a bouzouki
I say either:
Davy Stuart
or
Peter Abnett
These two make instruments of unbelievable calibre and quality.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by ecidralla