Double Bass Where to get Contrabass Balalaika?

[iiipopes]

Those guys are great!
This is a better version, without the host interrupting constantly...

I'm going to bookmark this one. Every time I hear or see on a thread comments about, "You know, you just can't play [insert particular genre of music] on anything but a [insert instrument or manufacturer], I'm simply going to reply with the link to this video. Magnificient.

 

[sirero]

Canadian-made Irish bouzouki?

Yeah The instrument is called the "Irish Bouzouki" There is also the Greek Bouzouki that is called the Bouzouki.

 

[eerbrev]

Yeah The instrument is called the "Irish Bouzouki" There is also the Greek Bouzouki that is called the Bouzouki.

the difference is that A greek bouzouki has a smaller, round back lute-style body, whereas an irish bouzouki has a flat back and a tear-drop shaped body kind of like an a-style mandolin. It showed up in the folk boom in ireland in the 60's through the instrumental experimentation. I think it was a dude from The Chieftains.

Sorry, had a celtic music course last semester and I like sharing my random knowledge of randomness.

regards,


Alex

 

[Jake deVilliers]

the difference is that A greek bouzouki has a smaller, round back lute-style body, whereas an irish bouzouki has a flat back and a tear-drop shaped body kind of like an a-style mandolin.

The more important difference is that an Irish Bouzouki is tuned GG DD aa dd (low to high) and the Greek Bouzouki is tuned Cc Ff aa dd. Those octave strings are the key to making "Never on a Sunday" sound authentic!

 

[eerbrev]

The more important difference is that an Irish Bouzouki is tuned GG DD aa dd (low to high) and the Greek Bouzouki is tuned Cc Ff aa dd. Those octave strings are the key to making "Never on a Sunday" sound authentic!

Indeed! Missed that in my post! What does this have to do with Balalaikas again? *sigh* I'm all OT... :scowl:

 

[bassics1975]

But you could strap it to your back and glide rooftop to rooftop!
It sounds good. Do you play it with a giant pick/plectrum? I see the "bass" player has something in his hand.....

Well, at very least you would have one hell of a paddle if you were stuck at sea! That thing could paddle a cruise ship.

 

[fingerbun]

The more important difference is that an Irish Bouzouki is tuned GG DD aa dd (low to high) and the Greek Bouzouki is tuned Cc Ff aa dd. Those octave strings are the key to making "Never on a Sunday" sound authentic!

I tune mine gg dd aa ee same as a mandolin but an octave lower. The g and d pairs are an octave apart while the a and e pairs are in the same octave. It sounds like a less rich 12-string.

 

[basecliff]

Hi, I played contrabass balalaika for about 10 years during the existence of the University of Illinois Russian Folk Orchestra!

We use rectangular or triangular picks made out of leather. We went to a local shoe maker/repair place and they would give us scrap leather to make a new one when needed.

If you are serious about this music, I recommend the Balalaika and Domra Society of America (www.bdaa.com). They'll be an invaluable source about repairs, accessories, technique, lessons, ensembles, etc.

With a good instrument, you will really love playing it. Huge sound, more variety of tonal colors available (by moving your contact point) than with a double bass. Work on tremolo early if you want to play in a good group - it can be very expressive, and is expected in ensemble on longer notes.

 

[iiipopes]

How are the contra bass balalaikas and bass balalaikas tuned?

 

[Keris]

I found a German site a while ago that had Pro ones for sale but I can't find the link, they were about 3K

I want on too but I think you would really want to try one first as they are BIG and pricy...

Invalid Link Removed has contra-bass balalaikas for 800 Euro (that would be US$ 1400 or so). They say in German "by popular demand", I have a suspicion that Norwegian girl band Katzenjammer is making the instrument popular in Europe. I have no idea of the quality or source, this was passed to me as a friend because it's a site used by a number of German folk musicians (I have no other connection with the site).

(Invalid Link Removed is the direct link to the instrument, but I don't know how permanent that is.)

(I want one. But I am limited in storage and transportation, and those things are big, seeing them next to people I'd guess around 6ft (a bit under 2m) tall in a case, I can't fit that into my car.)

 

[Kipaste]

Invalid Link Removed has contra-bass balalaikas for 800 Euro (that would be US$ 1400 or so).

800 euros would be around 1160 USD. However, getting one of these shipped would most likely be insanely expensive.

I hauled one from russia via a train and paid around 350 e for it. It is sort of a cheapo though, but gets the job done.

 

[Matt Ides]

I play in a folk group with Domra and Balalaika. I must be lucky since we all just like the good ole double bass.

 

[chuck3]

I'm going to bookmark this one. Every time I hear or see on a thread comments about, "You know, you just can't play [insert particular genre of music] on anything but a [insert instrument or manufacturer], I'm simply going to reply with the link to this video. Magnificient.

I agree completely! i was laughing but in admiration at the fine playing. Contrabass balalaika all the way baby!

 

[Edvin]

there is one up for sale in sweden!
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
around $1500

 

[chuck3]

Invalid Link Removed

I think I'm in love ... seriously, that Blue Bossa video is great. One question though - in discussing tuning of these things, everybody above listed four strings, but this one plus the one the guy played on Blue Bossa only seem to have three strings. Any guess at the tuning?

BTW, this could start a whole new debate ... are 3 strings better than 4?

 

[BeowulfKingsley]

I tried one in a shop in Chicago and found it a really difficult instrument to play! Big strings, stiff high action, and a very different response than anything else I'd ever played...but I think once you got used to it, you'd have a lot of fun. I have enough troubles getting the Kay in the van though.

 

[gasotnik]

I would like to sell my contrabass balalaika. I would be willing to start a conversation with a serious buyer.......I have not established a price, yet but will research it

 

[Bullhead]

Google With Edward Swetlowski in Atlanta. He build the smaller ones.

 

[butterfingers]

Invalid Link Removed

Not very expensive - under £400. Oh, and they are tuned to E A D like the bottom three strings of a double bass or bass guitar, and played (I'm not joking) with a leather boot-heel! I like the Fender-esque headstock on this one.

 

[dbass26c]

I have a concert quality Russian made bass balalaika (not contra) that I'm willing to sell. If you are genuinely interested, I can supply some photos.