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Bouzoukis & CitternsThe Irish bouzouki and cittern are part of an ever evolving family of mandolin family instruments. Both are essentialy big mandolins tuned an octave lower, with the cittern having an extra course of strings. The type1 bouzouki or cittern with a small teardrop shaped body is a good all-round accompaniment or melody instrument, especially in a band environment. The strong midrange gives a tonal contrast to both guitar and mandolin, with a separate voice in the instrumental lineup. The larger bodied type 3 gives a tonal range more that of a small bodied guitar, but still with the slightly nasal tone characteristic of the bouzouki. It has more richness in the bass, while keeping the crisp higher register. An excellent choice for solo accompaniment. The type 2 blends the best qualities of both the type 1 and the type 3, and still sits on the leg comfortably.
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A 26" flat-top type 1 bouzouki |
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A 26" scale arch-top type 3 bouzouki |
Both types are available with either a flat soundboard with a pin bridge or an arched top with a floating bridge and tailpiece. Arch-top soundboards are fully carved from solid timber, either Sitka or Englemann spruce. See the pricelist page for details Both the flat-top and arch-top bridges can be made so a full width sensing undersaddlepeizo pickup can be fitted either during construction or later. For bouzoukis the choice of scale rather depends on the style of playing, but in general, the longer the string length the rcher and more resonant the sound of the instrument. Longer scale lengths (24"-26") are often prefered for accompaniment, while the shorter scales (22") are often used for more melodic styles of playing. The shorter scale is often prefered for 10-stringed instruments (or 'citterns') with an extra higher tuned course of strings, but there is increasing interest in 24-26" scale 10-string (what you might call a 5-course mandolcello) using a low D string. The archtop bouzouki/cittern tailpiece is designed for ball-end strings, and pivots on a single anchored point allowing the tailpiece to find an optimun position in relation to the bridge. Recommended string gauges are calculated for differing scale lengths and tunings. Soundboards are made from Sitka or Englemann Spruce, with bodies of Indian Rosewood or Tasmanian Blackwood (very similar to Koa) with Maple, Mahogany, Black Walnut and other Australian timbers, such as Tulip Satinwood available on request. Necks can be either Blackwood, Queensland Maple or Mahogany with Ebony or Rosewood fingerboards. Necks are bolted on through a hollow headblock All instruments are fully guaranteed for any defects in material and workmanship. While the instruments illustrated on the site are my standard models, I am always interested in making unique instruments - a musician's dream that is unlike anything else. I make tools for musicians, and the tool has to fit the user. Email me and we can discuss your dream. More pictures on the gallery page |
