Andy P
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Post by Andy P on May 28, 2020 19:20:38 GMT
Do any of you feel able to recommend a decent guitar/bouzouki, up to around £1500?
This kind of thing:
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 28, 2020 22:24:12 GMT
Fab vid, Andy! A carved top g-b as in the vid would come in v steep! Best guitar-bouzouki (flat top)I've played was by our very own Dave White - www.defaoiteguitars.com/page22.htm..but a bit more expensive. Gorgeous sound strummed/flatpicked. Unsurprisingly, Leo has one but I doubt you could prise it out of his hands.... Not entirely convinced what might be available - would Dave Carless make you one? Keith
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Post by malcolm on May 29, 2020 8:30:37 GMT
Dermot McIlroy makes one called a gazouki. You might find one second hand, they are quite rare but then again not everybody wants one so you could be lucky. Ashbury make a cheaper one.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 29, 2020 11:35:05 GMT
Dermot McIlroy makes one called a gazouki. You might find one second hand, they are quite rare but then again not everybody wants one so you could be lucky. Ashbury make a cheaper one. Dave White of this parish sold his McIlroy gazouki not that long ago - but it's nothing like a guitar size. Good call re Ashbury - didn't know they had a proper g-b in their range - tempting! www.ashburyguitars.com/cat/sales/products/GR33024/ashbury-gazouki-guitar-body/Keith
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on May 30, 2020 8:22:49 GMT
Thanks guys, much appreciated. Keith I think DC has a waiting list and I'm never one to want to hang around. Impulses need to be acted on before common sense kicks in I've done a bit of a trawl. The last McIlroy I've found for sale was 18 months ago. I found three possible options: Ashbury, as above. Hand made, in Vietnam. I'm ashamed to say I've been a bit of a snob about Ashbury, without ever trying one, but if you're tempted Keith I guess they may be ok.... Ozark I have an Ozard tenor mandola, which although rather shabbily finished, is very playable and has a sweet tone. Gold Tone mandocello I presume this is a similar instrument, although may be tuned differently.
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Post by Onechordtrick on May 30, 2020 8:50:40 GMT
If you can get over your snobbery then Ashbury is definitely worth a look at. I used to have one of their Octave Mandolins which I only sold because I wasn’t playing it enough and wanted the cash to finance a guitar. But very well made and lovely tone. How about one of Paul Hathway’s instruments? hobgoblin.com/hathway-standard-irish-bouzouki-solid-spruce I’ve got one of his mandolins and again it’s a lovely instrument.
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on May 30, 2020 9:28:45 GMT
..but a bit more expensive. Gorgeous sound strummed/flatpicked. Unsurprisingly, Leo has one but I doubt you could prise it out of his hands.... Yup, my guizouki by davewhite ain't going nowhere - it is a fantastic instrument, a joy to play. (yes, I'm fully aware of the double negative, I was merely trying to replicate the vernacular of the populace who aren't as cultured as what I am do be.)
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Post by malcolm on May 30, 2020 9:38:42 GMT
Thanks guys, much appreciated. Keith I think DC has a waiting list and I'm never one to want to hang around. Impulses need to be acted on before common sense kicks in I've done a bit of a trawl. The last McIlroy I've found for sale was 18 months ago. I found three possible options: Ashbury, as above. Hand made, in Vietnam. I'm ashamed to say I've been a bit of a snob about Ashbury, without ever trying one, but if you're tempted Keith I guess they may be ok.... Ozark I have an Ozard tenor mandola, which although rather shabbily finished, is very playable and has a sweet tone. Gold Tone mandocello I presume this is a similar instrument, although may be tuned differently. Regarding the Ashbury, I've never played one but hand made in Vietnam is good, they make some very complex instruments out there. I spent most of last winter in Vietnam and visited some stringed instrument workshops where I saw some very fine craftsmanship. They are a bit too fond of "bling" for my taste, but make excellent instruments. There is a very inspiring "can do" culture in Vietnam.
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Post by Onechordtrick on May 30, 2020 10:36:23 GMT
Ignore what I said about the Hathway; just reread the original post and understood what you’re after. The Hathway is a more traditional shape.
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on May 30, 2020 14:18:16 GMT
..but a bit more expensive. Gorgeous sound strummed/flatpicked. Unsurprisingly, Leo has one but I doubt you could prise it out of his hands.... Yup, my guizouki by davewhite ain't going nowhere - it is a fantastic instrument, a joy to play. (yes, I'm fully aware of the double negative, I was merely trying to replicate the vernacular of the populace who aren't as cultured as what I am do be.) You're clearly tempted...gimme a price
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on May 30, 2020 14:24:54 GMT
If you can get over your snobbery then Ashbury is definitely worth a look at. I used to have one of their Octave Mandolins which I only sold because I wasn’t playing it enough and wanted the cash to finance a guitar. But very well made and lovely tone. How about one of Paul Hathway’s instruments? hobgoblin.com/hathway-standard-irish-bouzouki-solid-spruce I’ve got one of his mandolins and again it’s a lovely instrument. Noted - thanks! There's a Hobgoblin outlet in nearby Edinburgh but even if it re-opens in a few weeks I think I'm going to be nervous about travelling there as it involves at least part of the journey by public transport. Maybe I just need to order and be prepared to send back....
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on May 30, 2020 14:26:11 GMT
Ignore what I said about the Hathway; just reread the original post and understood what you’re after. The Hathway is a more traditional shape. It's not set in stone so it's worth trying...
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Andy P
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My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on May 30, 2020 14:29:15 GMT
Regarding the Ashbury, I've never played one but hand made in Vietnam is good, they make some very complex instruments out there. I spent most of last winter in Vietnam and visited some stringed instrument workshops where I saw some very fine craftsmanship. They are a bit too fond of "bling" for my taste, but make excellent instruments. There is a very inspiring "can do" culture in Vietnam. That's interesting and good to know. I guess I've been guilty of the traditional view, now widely disproved, that anything made in the Far East is substandard. Thanks
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andrewjw
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Post by andrewjw on May 30, 2020 14:32:52 GMT
Ignore what I said about the Hathway; just reread the original post and understood what you’re after. The Hathway is a more traditional shape. It's not set in stone so it's worth trying... Francis francis might be getting bored and looking for a new challenge maybe? Gary Nava garynava also used to make similar instruments but I think he is concentrating on mandolins currently.. Both are excellent makers and communicators...
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Post by malcolm on May 30, 2020 19:13:01 GMT
That's interesting and good to know. I guess I've been guilty of the traditional view, now widely disproved, that anything made in the Far East is substandard. Thanks I can remember when we used to turn up our noses at Japanese cars!
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