Bouzoukis Citterns and Mandolas

These eight stringed instruments feature in many Celtic and world music groups both as a solo and backing instrument. Braced for strength, tone and projection, the standard shape is a teardrop with different scale lengths available depending on the tuning and player’s preference.

Many are tuned an octave below the mandolin at GDAE or GDAD, facilitating mandolin style chords, and they can be strung in pairs or with the lower strings in octaves. They usually have a mandolin-like tail piece bridge but some players prefer a guitar-like pin bridge.

Also Available are ten string versions called citterns, with radiused fingerboards for comfort, and shorter scaled versions called mandolas. All instruments can be custom designed and made to suit particular styles of playing. Pickups can also be fitted under the saddle.

This instrument is made of spruce and mahogany, with rosewood fingerboard and blackwood peghead veneer, walnut binding, black/white purfling, herring bone rosette, choice of neck dots, Gotoh machine heads and adjustable truss rod. Scale length is 600 mm (23½ in.). Body depth is 90 mm (3½ in.) at the tail block and 75 mm (3 in) at the body join. Neck width is 38 mm (1 ½ in.) at the nut and 45 mm (1 ¾ in.) at the 15th fret.

Price NZ$1,550 with hard case (convert currency)

This ten stringed instrument has a sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The fretboard is radiused to facilitate playing ten strings and the instrument is fitted with a Fishman Matrix pick up. The neck is mahogany with a fitted truss rod, and the binding and peg head veneer are usually rosewood or blackwood.

Price with case (pick-up not included): NZ$1,750 (convert currency)

This eight stringed oval holed bouzouki is made of figured Tasmanian Blackwood with rosewood binding and ebony fingerboard, tail piece and bridge. Available with spruce top and alternative body timbers, such as rosewood and mahogany. Named after the city in which this particular instrument resides with its Irish muscian owner.

Price with case NZ$1,850 (convert currency)

My bouzoukis are also available with a pin bridge instead of a tail piece. A pin bridge instrument has more sustain and less percussive tone. It is braced a bit differently inside, but is otherwise the same dimensions as the standard bouzouki.

Bouzoukis can have single or double cut-aways. They have no bearing on the tone but can be a little easier for players to hold on their knee. This particular instrument has a cedar top and mahogany back and sides. It features Gotoh machine heads and has a 600mm scale length.

Price with case NZ$1,680 (convert currency)