Good evening, everyone,
I’m looking for a three-course bouzouki for old rebetiko songs.
I want an instrument to play Vamvakaris, Tsitsanis, Payioumtsis and others with my friends. I don’t know anything about luthiers, or instruments for that matter (so far I’ve been playing a cheap, warped four-course one), so I’d really appreciate any recommendations you might have. Money isn’t a major concern (up to £2,000).
To start with, I’d suggest not getting involved with expensive instruments and luthiers. Spend a modest amount (relative to your budget), somewhere between €500 and €1,000, and get a good second-hand one, so you can see whether the trichordo suits your playing style, sound and hands. If it does, and you’re not happy with the trichordo you already have, you can always move on to a better one later.
Here’s a tip: “Listen to and play as many instruments as you can before you decide!”
The Ship’s Engineer is right. However, since finding a suitable second-hand one isn’t all that easy—especially for someone inexperienced in such matters—a good, accessible option is a brand-new little instrument costing around €500–1,000 at most, bought ready-made from Matsikas (a very good value-for-money ratio).
Thank you very much for your help; you’ve given me a wonderful “compass” for my search, and I really appreciate it!
Welcome!
There are plenty of relevant threads here on the forum to start with, so there’s lots of reading for you. You may ultimately find that the sound and feel of a three-course bouzouki don’t suit you if you’re used to a four-course one. Either way, little by little you’ll hone your ear and your technique.
Next, as Alexandros says, look at as many instruments as you can from good instrument makers. Only place a custom order once you’ve decided what you want and are sure of a maker’s work; otherwise, buy a ready-made instrument. Second-hand instruments are also a very good option.
Are you based in Athens? I suggest visiting Kafetzopoulos, Moustakas, Mountakis, Toulikas, Toffas, Zarani, Vasileiou and so on, among others that the rest will recommend. In Thessaloniki, Theodorakis and Alexandris; Poiklis in Preveza; Mylonas in Mytilene; and, of course, others in various places.
If you have the money and the enthusiasm, you usually become less likely to buy second-hand, so I agree with Niko’s last message: when it comes to buying used, which is the right thing to do, in the last four years I’ve seen only one person do it (who at least left feedback), and he bought two bouzoukis.
I would naturally add Christos Spourdalakis and Rapakousios in Athens, if you’re lucky.
One of my favourite topics! As Mr Nikos says, it’s very difficult (I’d say impossible) for an inexperienced player to understand what might be good. I started with a mid-range bouzouki costing €800, which, incidentally, isn’t a student instrument and can EASILY hold its own on stage, but when I eventually got a good bouzouki, I saw a huge difference. And I’m not talking about the sound and so on. I mean everything. A good instrument is usually lighter and more comfortable, and better set up, so you learn to play much more easily. Good instruments breathe. They produce sound freely, and you don’t have to push yourself as hard. Of course, everyone is different. I believe that a beginner who has made up their mind, is passionate about it and has already strummed an instrument or two should get something good from the outset. The only way to do that without spending money you can’t afford just for the sake of it is what the people who posted earlier said: buy second-hand from a good luthier. For up to €1,000, you can get an instrument that might sell for €2,000 new. We should also add that if you buy a second-hand instrument that has been well looked after, it may be better than a completely unplayed-in new instrument. Not always, of course. BE CAREFUL. Very often, when buying second-hand, you need the knowledge to know whether what you’re buying is worth it and is genuinely good. So you really need a trusted player to help you. We’re talking about an instrument — as long as you’re healthy, you can buy more. But you’ll get bored of this one eventually too! Make an effort to find one that you’re less likely to tire of. Search, and above all, listen. And make sure it feels easy in your hands. That matters more than the sound. If you’re comfortable, the sound will come too! To some extent, at least! Happy playing!
P.S. Here in Thessaloniki, our friend Giannis Alexandris makes some really lovely instruments. He also makes beautiful three-course bouzoukis.
I find your approach interesting. To be honest, I’ve made up my mind, since I’m fed up with guitar chords. I’ve got about a year’s experience on a cheap bouzouki and 5–6 years on guitar.
Thessaloniki is lovely, mate — I wish I had the time to come… 
Bored of chords? But the guitar has so much to offer beyond chords!
I know, it’s just that I focus exclusively on rebetiko, and usually the role of the guitar in rebetiko is to play chords, so I want to switch to bouzouki and try something new 
You’ll be surprised when you realise how many rebetika songs are recorded with guitar rather than bouzouki as the lead instrument!
Interesting—if it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me a couple, just out of curiosity…
Teketzis from Kasimatis, Peristeris on guitar… Just one example among many arranged this way… Of course, the guitar’s role in 95% of recordings is to play chords, but this does exist, and it has a lot of depth. The guitar is more complex and richer than the bouzouki. But it isn’t a bouzouki…
As far as I remember, there’s also a recording of Hiotis playing “Pasatembou” with two guitars. I’ve been looking for it but can’t find it…
Skarvelis, Peristeris, Papazoglou, Chrysinis, Karipis and Chiotis, as well as Katsaros, Bezos and Dousias.
See an excellent edition here:
https://78strofes.gr/product/η-ελληνική-κιθάρα-στις-78-στροφές/
Basically, do you listen to modern stuff? Explore everything by Mystakidis.
Even if you don’t listen to modern stuff, Mystakidis is still a very good guide: look up the original versions of all the songs he has reworked. Laïkí guitar is a whole world in itself, and was relatively unknown until a few years ago. Mystakidis has decoded the whole thing, from playing techniques to discography guides.
The guitar in rebetiko has three roles: a clean solo as the main melodic instrument, clean accompaniment, and a self-accompanied solo.
As for the first, to tell you the truth, I’m not really into it. It’s a matter of taste. The third — that is, the Dousa–Katsaros–Bezos style — is absolutely magical, but let’s say it may not be for everyone, only for those willing to specialise in an almost entirely new instrument (different tunings, different fingerings, different picking styles). Clean accompaniment, however, can be far more creative and interesting than simply playing chords. That’s mainly what I was referring to when I said there’s “endless scope beyond the chords”.
For people who are interested in exploring the full breadth of laïkí guitar, I think the best thing that can happen to them is to play bouzouki as well and team up with someone else who also plays both.
Mystakidis is great — I’d never heard him before…
I understand what you mean about accompaniment and other techniques beyond just chords; there’s definitely a lot to explore with the guitar, but it’s certainly no little bouzouki… There’s a difference between bringing out the guitar to play with your friends and bringing out the bouzouki… (From personal experience, it was only with the bouzouki that we really got into the spirit of things 
) As for your last comment, I’d say I couldn’t agree more — having a healthy relationship with both instruments is the best solution!
Good evening, mate. If you’d like my opinion on the instrument, listen:
-You should get a good instrument because, even if you’re a beginner, you’ll develop your fingers and ear on it!! (€1,200–€1,500 is a good range)
-If the instrument is cheap, it will give you trouble, both because of the sound you’ll hear and because of how it handles.
-On the other hand, if you stop wanting to play the instrument, you’ll throw your money away with a cheap one because you won’t be able to sell it.
-Without wanting to advertise (although it hardly needs it), I’d suggest visiting VARLA’s instrument workshop.
There you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.
Best wishes,
Thanasis.
It is also interesting that in “A Lad at Votanikos” (the version performed with Kasimatis), as well as in other pieces with Peristeris that I can’t recall at the moment, the melodic guitar is referred to as a “bouzouki”, perhaps so there can be no doubt who the soloist here is.
