Members Glenn F Posted March 1, 2015 Members Share Posted March 1, 2015 A FB friend is selling one, and I am thinking of grabbing it. What to look for, what to avoid? Thanks! Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Idunno Posted March 1, 2015 Members Share Posted March 1, 2015 No. I did look into them a few years ago but decided against another instrument I would know even less about than the guitar. Cool sound, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted March 1, 2015 Members Share Posted March 1, 2015 Think of it as a mandolin paired with a guitar-long neck and you've got it.So look for general condition, neck warp, neck angle and the usual stuff of lose bracing or cracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted March 1, 2015 Members Share Posted March 1, 2015 I met a guy last Fall who played one. Seems like it would be cool to have one. Sorry, that's all I got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted March 2, 2015 Members Share Posted March 2, 2015 There's also the mandocello. Similar bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Blanchard Posted March 3, 2015 Members Share Posted March 3, 2015 I still debate getting one of those. Now that my wife is playing keyboard it might be neat to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Idunno Posted March 3, 2015 Members Share Posted March 3, 2015 Gary, you and I may be the only two people I know who still say "neat". I wanted to get one of these. Seriously looked. It was the last instrument I narrowed the field to after starting with the Hurdy-Gurdy and going through banjo, banjitar, mando and others. Then I realized there was so much unfamiliar territory on the guitar I begged off other instruments and began playing it more and in different ways (styles, tunings, etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted March 3, 2015 Members Share Posted March 3, 2015 Over here on my craggy island, the Irish Bouzouki (go figure!) is always welcome. There is a downside, though. Tuned in perfect fiftths you can not compete with fiddle and mando due to the looong scale. Tune it in open D and the banjo and the guitar will kill you. You're perfectly seated between all the comfy chairs. Not. But eletrification helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Blanchard Posted March 3, 2015 Members Share Posted March 3, 2015 I get instruments and support from Luna Guitars and have been looking at this. I have the Trinity 12-string as well, so it would match, and it has electronics. As a solo performer I couldn't use it, but with the keyboard added I think it wold be neat. What would be the Open D on this, katopp? I'd like to try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted March 3, 2015 Members Share Posted March 3, 2015 The usual tunings are GDAE for melody and if you use it for strumming, you could tune it GDAD, ADAD ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted March 3, 2015 Members Share Posted March 3, 2015 Usual Irish tuning is GDAD or ADAD (http://www.mandolinluthier.com/tuning-bouzouki.htm). You could use ADAD or drop the G to F# and have F#DAD, which is another variation on a D chord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Blanchard Posted March 4, 2015 Members Share Posted March 4, 2015 Okay, you guys have pushed me to the brink. I am talking to Yvonne at Luna about getting one of these. I'll keep you all posted on my experience. I'll also check out some tunings when I get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted March 4, 2015 Members Share Posted March 4, 2015 @Gary Blanchard You get them directly from Luna? I'm looking into the Mustang/Wolf/Eagle guitars from Luna. They do look good. Any "internal" info about them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Blanchard Posted March 4, 2015 Members Share Posted March 4, 2015 I have an endorsement deal with Luna and get guitars at cost; they also provided a guitar for an on-line giveaway one time. I love the look, sound, and playability of Luna guitars, and they liked by "love, hope, peace, and nature" approach. They are a very forward-looking company. In the months prior to International Peace Day they encouraged Luna owners to do something special for that day (I put together an acoustic concert with other local musicians); they also gave away an Instruments for Peace Concert every day for about 2 months leading up to the day. I wore mine to the concert. Like many guitars in that price range, there can be some variance in quality from one to the next; the Vista series you like are their high-range guitars and the quality tends to be more consistent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Delmont Posted March 10, 2015 Members Share Posted March 10, 2015 I have a friend who's on his second. Here's what he'd tell you: don't buy a Pacific rim job, you'll be disappointed. He started with a Chinese bouzouki - a Johnson, I think - and got rid of it after a few months. Said it was unplayable. Then he saved up for a good one - an Appolonia - and loves it. He gigs with it several times a month. So, yeah, take it if you want one and it's a good one. If it's not, you might be glad to skip it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted March 12, 2015 Members Share Posted March 12, 2015 I'm sorry. I posted this in the wrong forum. I should have posted it in a pet forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted March 12, 2015 Members Share Posted March 12, 2015 Nah, that is a Lou Easi Ann Souszuki. A *real* Irish Bouzouki loks more like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted March 27, 2015 Members Share Posted March 27, 2015 Irish bouzoukis look rather terrifying. But how do they sound? That's always the question to ask. Are they good with kids? If not - I wouldn't take a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted March 27, 2015 Members Share Posted March 27, 2015 How do they sound?Think of an A-style Mando but an octave lower.Everything els depends on technique (pick vs. strum) and tuning. EBGE, DADA, .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Glenn F Posted April 26, 2015 Author Members Share Posted April 26, 2015 Close to pulling the trigger, but the one my friend had is gone. So, looking new, and not a lot to go on, if I don't want one hand-made for me. Budget is around €500.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Close to pulling the trigger' date=' but the one my friend had is gone. So, looking new, and not a lot to go on, if I don't want one hand-made for me. Budget is around €500.00.[/quote'] Did you check out the Luna that Gary suggested? $450. http://www.lunaguitars.com/acousticproduct/bouzouki.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Blanchard Posted April 29, 2015 Members Share Posted April 29, 2015 Did you check out the Luna that Gary suggested? $450. http://www.lunaguitars.com/acousticproduct/bouzouki.php I can't speak for the bouzouki, but the guitars I have from them are excellent, especially the Trinity line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 I can't speak for the bouzouki, but the guitars I have from them are excellent, especially the Trinity line. Noted - the bouzouki looks pretty good to me. I'm half-tempted to look into one myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Blanchard Posted April 29, 2015 Members Share Posted April 29, 2015 Noted - the bouzouki looks pretty good to me. I'm half-tempted to look into one myself. It is on my "to get" list for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Glenn F Posted May 9, 2015 Author Members Share Posted May 9, 2015 I've tried two Portuguese Bouzoukis (Made by APC in Portugal), model B308. They both came with serious issues and were sent back. I am going to try a B310, but it is more expensive (solid rosewood vs Ovangkol lam). I enjoy playing them, now I just have to find the right 'zouk.' Maybe I should wait until we go to Ireland, which may be this year. PS, Porto Zouks have a slightly larger body than Irish Zouks, same neck and strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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