Members Etienne Rambert Posted November 10, 2015 Members Share Posted November 10, 2015 I am now the owner of a Balalaika. It is relatively vintage, made in Leningrad (not St. Petersburg), in the USSR (not Russia), maybe 1970's. I don't think it's worth a lot of money, a couple of million dollars tops. Maybe less.It isn't what I'd call a beauty. It has 3 strings. One is missing.I think it takes the 1st and 2nd string of a guitar. But a 3rd string might work. The neck is about the size of a mandolin. The body is triangular. It's about this size: Pics of mine to follow.Now I'm wondering what in the Hell am I going to do w/ this thing? It would make a hell of a good weapon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FretFiend. Posted November 10, 2015 Members Share Posted November 10, 2015 Play it well, tovarich! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted November 10, 2015 Members Share Posted November 10, 2015 Happy New Pointy Instrument Day. Here's some info on strings: http://www.amazon.com/La-Bella-Balalaika-String-Set/dp/B0016BKT0S/ref=sr_1_2/176-7799568-0414030?ie=UTF8&qid=1447192563&sr=8-2&keywords=balalaika+strings. That set is .008, .010, and .012. Looks like a second or third string wouldn't work but a first might depending on which string is missing. BTW, the USSR reference reminded me that my hygrometer was made in "East Germany." Kinda weird to still see leftovers from those days sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted November 10, 2015 Author Members Share Posted November 10, 2015 Happy New Pointy Instrument Day. Here's some info on strings: http://www.amazon.com/La-Bella-Balalaika-String-Set/dp/B0016BKT0S/ref=sr_1_2/176-7799568-0414030?ie=UTF8&qid=1447192563&sr=8-2&keywords=balalaika+strings. That set is .008' date=' .010, and .012. Looks like a second or third string wouldn't work but a first might depending on which string is missing. BTW, the USSR reference reminded me that my hygrometer was made in "East Germany." Kinda weird to still see leftovers from those days sometimes.[/quote'] Yeah, I purchased a triangular-shaped time-warp. I will try guitar strings, starting w/9 or 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted November 16, 2015 Author Members Share Posted November 16, 2015 The seller even threw in an instruction book written in Russian and German to get me started. I don't speak or read either language.So that might just come in handy down the road. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted November 16, 2015 Members Share Posted November 16, 2015 Nice blackguard! Love the corner protectors and rosette! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted November 16, 2015 Members Share Posted November 16, 2015 That looks really cool. Good luck with it. Wikipedia says the most common tuning is E E A so it should be possible to figure out chords and whatnot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balalaika. Post a clip if you get the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tony Burns Posted November 18, 2015 Members Share Posted November 18, 2015 That's actually a pretty decent instrument ( the one with the book )The one in the picture with the fellow with Russian souvenir hat is not ( i have one simalar to that one )yours does not look like the typical export quality -but one you'd buy in the USSR.Not a bad balilikia - their allot of fun - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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