Greek Bouzouki

[tamirra]

Hi, can anyone tell me if there is anywhere i can buy a second hand Greek Bouzouki for my husband, i dont work so i dont have much to spend on one, but it was just a thought for his birthday. Thank you in advance

[Jugglering]

Here's a useful site that gives you details on musical instrument shops that sell second hand and new stuff.... Hobgoblin had Bouzouki for sale - starting at �150 though so not cheap....

http://www.musicalinstrumentsales.co.uk/folksh op.html

Do you have a Greek community near you ? Then a wanted ad in the local newspaper might produce the result. Or a Greek restaurant - ask the owners if they know of any going for sale in their families.

[tamborine]

Is it 4 double strings - got one with inlay but it has little crack on body. You can have it if you can come to Windsor?

[tamirra]

I would be interested in it though, how about if i pay the postage? i live in Ramsgate Kent. x

[rojash]

Playable Greek bouzoukia start at around 500 quid and go up to about 5,000.

Tourist bouzoukia cost around 75 quid.
Does he actually want to play it, and must it be Greek?

Irish bouzoukis tend to be cheaper as they have flat backs (easier and cheaper to make) but they also have shorter necks and are tuned differently.

A really nice alternative to a bouzouki is a mandolin. Ther are some very good chinese-made ones for around 60 quid.

[tamirra]

Hi, yes it does really have to be a bouzouki as he is Greek and i know would like to learn to play.

[rojash]

Well, in that case, and if he's serious about it, you are looking at big bucks, I'm afraid. My Bouzouki is a factory made Sakis (i.e. cheaper end of scale) and cost me 1,200 quid 6 years ago.

The bouzouki is a very difficult instrument - much harder than guitar or mandolin, so the last thing you need is to be trying to learn on some crappy thing that was designed to be hung on the wall.

[tamirra]

Point taken, and thank you for your honest remark. x