Good evening, everyone!! I’m looking to have a new three-course bouzouki made. Which maker would you recommend as the most reliable and reasonably priced? Thanks in advance.
First of all, which area are you in? Also, when you say affordable, roughly how much do you mean?
I’m in Patras, but I can come up to Athens if necessary. I was thinking something budget-friendly, up to £1,200.
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To be more specific, I’ve been learning to play the three-course bouzouki for a year, through lessons and personal practice. During this time, I’ve been using a borrowed bouzouki, and now that I’ve realised how much I enjoy playing it and that I want to continue for as long as I can, I’m thinking that it’s time to buy one of my own.
At first, I was thinking of buying something “mass-produced”, such as a Matsikas, which I believe are very good instruments in the €700–900 range. After giving it quite a bit of thought, I decided to increase my budget a little, to around €1,200, and go to a luthier instead.
I’m based in Patras and, from what I’ve seen, there aren’t many luthiers to choose from in my area. Does anyone know of a luthier anywhere as far as Athens who could make me a good instrument for this amount? (I’m saying Athens because it would also be easier for me to get there in the future for servicing, any repairs, etc.)
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Starting out with a borrowed bouzouki is ideal—bravo! After a year of learning, you can try out instruments and form your own opinion, something you wouldn’t be able to do if you didn’t know how to play.
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[quote=“Dimitris23, post:4, topic:49543”]
Does anyone know of an instrument maker as far as Athens where I could have something good made for this sort of money? (I mention Athens so that it will also be easier for me to get there in the future for servicing, any repairs, etc.)
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I recommend Kafet||||opoulos, of course, but there are many very good craftsmen.
Edit, 2 hours later: Wrong! Very good craftsmen don’t charge €700 — it’s much more than that.
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Pay a visit to Drakopoulos in Patras. Try out an instrument so you can get an idea. As far as I remember, they start at 1,500, if I’m not mistaken.
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Good morning. €1,200 is by no means a small amount of money for a bouzouki, and I think you can find loads of options in that price range in Athens, as well as all over Greece.
You need to shop around extensively… Also, for €1,200 you can find “very good” second-hand instruments…
For example:
They just need a routine check by their maker, in my opinion.
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As mentioned above, with €1,200 you can have a really excellent instrument made and keep it for life. As for instrument makers, there are plenty of options; the thing is, depending on the style and sound of the bouzouki you want, you need to go to the right luthier… What sound do you want the bouzouki to have, and what songs do you want to play on the three-course? Pre-war? Post-war? Laïkó? Etc., etc.
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I mostly play pre-war stuff. Very little laïko.
At this price point and for this sound, I definitely know Petros Zar… and Petros Moustakas, but there are certainly many others too. If anyone knows of more, please let us know. I haven’t mentioned many of them because their prices start at €1,500 and go upwards. I hope you find what you’re looking for, and one thing I’d definitely say is: don’t rush into buying. Go around to all of them and play some ready-made instruments so you can see which suits you best.
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Guys, happy holidays and Merry Christmas!!! Without starting a new topic, does anyone know an instrument maker named Giannis Gouliaras from Larissa?
Good evening, everyone!!! I’d like to thank you all for the help and advice you gave me about buying my new bouzouki!! Today I bought a wonderful three-stringed bouzouki from Mr Spourdalakis! I’ll upload photos tonight or tomorrow as well!!
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Hope you enjoy playing it. And of course, be sure to show it to us.
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Enjoy it, mate, and congratulations on the new one! Spourdalakis is a sure thing—post a photo so we can see it!
The bouzouki is made of chestnut, with a spruce soundboard and carbon fibre in the neck. Below are a few photos and a short video.
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May your bouzouki take you on many happy journeys! Mr Spourdalakis is an excellent luthier! Since the equally great luthier Kafetzopoulos was mentioned above, I should mention that I called him in January and he told me that he no longer makes bouzoukis…
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