Contra-bass Balalaika?

[40Hz]

Just stumbled on this guy over at YT.

My "off the boat" Russian grandfather used to play one of these - although not electrified like the one in these videos. His also only had the traditional three strings, so it looks like some people are still doing something with the instrument outside of traditional Russian folk music.



And if Lemmy played one of these:



Of course these ladies inthe band Katzenjammer from Norway have their own way of using one:



Some paint job too!

 

[bholder]

Don't forget The Red Elvises!
Red Elvises
Might be the same guy though.

 

[GretschWretch]

At a Houston RenFaire in the early eighties a bassist for a gypsy troupe was rocking a four-string contrabass balaika. First such I'd ever seen.

 

[HaphAsSard]

My "off the boat" Russian grandfather used to play one of these

Really? The contra-bass one? Cool! Now this is some serious bass pedigree!
Funny thing is, I could easily get one of these, made in Romania, for 700 euros delivered to my door... If only they weren't so wide and...triangular!
What I'd really like would be a 4-string contrabass domra, or a guitar-shaped berde.
Well, one of those or a Regal Bassoguitar (which brings me, indirectly, to another thread today.)

 

[Watchootognbout]

Verrrry interesting!

I wonder how these compare with an ABG.
Volume-wise?

 

[fretlessguy]

I'd hate to get that thing through an airport....

 

[40Hz]

^ Don't know about you, but lately I hate to go through an airport with even a carry-on bag thanks to the geniuses they've got working for TSB on the check-in lines.

 

[Bassamatic]

A fellow plays one in a country band here in L.A. I wasn't sure what I was seeing at first! Very weird. Didn't sound like anything special.

 

[40Hz]

A fellow plays one in a country band here in L.A. I wasn't sure what I was seeing at first! Very weird. Didn't sound like anything special.

They're nothing special IMO either. They're just another bass instrument. And like any musical instrument, the "special" is in the player - not the piece of wood they're playing.

 

[bholder]

They're nothing special IMO either. They're just another bass instrument. And like any musical instrument, the "special" is in the player - not the piece of wood they're playing.

Well, the intimidating visual has to count for something for acts requiring that certain aggressive "stage presence".

 

[40Hz]

Well, the intimidating visual has to count for something for acts requiring that certain aggressive "stage presence".

Yeah. But I'd also need the "shaved head plus tats" vibe to get the whole Spetznaz thing going for me. More trouble than it's worth IMO. Besides, I'm more the lover-type than the fighter-type anyway. (Chicks dig it!)

 

[GretschWretch]

They're nothing special IMO either. They're just another bass instrument. And like any musical instrument, the "special" is in the player - not the piece of wood they're playing.

Don't know how well this applies to politicians, where all too often the piece of wood being played is the one that sits at the top of the player.

 

[bholder]

Yeah. But I'd also need the "shaved head plus tats" vibe to get the whole Spetznaz thing going for me. More trouble than it's worth IMO. Besides, I'm more the lover-type than the fighter-type anyway. (Chicks dig it!)

Or there's the cutesy minidress outfit, but I wouldn't go for that either.

 

[Solarmist]

Does it come with a hardshell case?

 

[40Hz]

Or there's the cutesy minidress outfit, but I wouldn't go for that either.

Me either. Anything to not have to shave my legs.

 

[VicJ]

Verrrry interesting!View attachment 737451

I wonder how these compare with an ABG.
Volume-wise?

There is no comparison...an ABG is basically worthless without a pickup. A contrabass balalaika will shake the walls. I wanted an acoustic bass that could be heard, without having to learn to play a fretless upright. This fits the bill...same scale length as an upright, sans the G string (although Doff makes a 4 string now if that's a deal breaker).

 

[IamGroot]

Just stumbled on this guy over at YT.

My "off the boat" Russian grandfather used to play one of these - although not electrified like the one in these videos. His also only had the traditional three strings, so it looks like some people are still doing something with the instrument outside of traditional Russian folk music.



And if Lemmy played one of these:



Of course these ladies inthe band Katzenjammer from Norway have their own way of using one:



Some paint job too!

Do you read music? I am transcribing traditional russina musika from the bass or bass balalaika.

 

[40Hz]

View attachment 3107301 View attachment 3107301

Do you read music? I am transcribing traditional russina musika from the bass or bass balalaika.

I do. And than you for sharing that transciption. I’ll have to give it a play through when I get a chance. Looks like fun.

I’m not very knowledgeable about traditional Russian music. But put a score in front of me and I could at least play along.

Are you transcribing for eventual commercial publication, or is this more of a personal project?

 

[Axstar]

A touring Russian folk/dance group called Rostov Balalaika used to play in the town I grew up in. They had a bass balalaika player, and without amplification that thing seemed to fill the room. From memory one corner rested against the stage, so maybe there was a bit of natural amplification coming from this coupling effect?

I nearly picked up a balalaika from a charity shop near me. Apparently a whole raft of cheap ones were knocked together for the 1980 Russian olympics, for tourists to take home, and it was likely one of those.

 

[IamGroot]

Mostly for pleasure. Cossack choir stuff is on my list now like "Unhitch the horses, buddies" and "Isaac the Cossack goes to the Donau. A few times a year, I meet with friends in a small central Texas town and we sing at the bar.