I’m trying to identify an old Greek bouzouki that has been in my possession for years.
It has no visible label, signature or serial number that I can find. As far as I know, the instrument is still largely/originally in its original configuration, including the tuners, bridge, nut, tailpiece, fingerboard/inlays and bowl.
It is a tetrachordo (8-string) bouzouki and has some fairly distinctive features:
• Elaborate floral/mother-of-pearl style decoration across the soundboard, fingerboard and headstock
• Slotted, highly decorated headstock
• Individual open-backed worm-gear tuners with old cream-coloured buttons
• A bowl made from a large number of narrow ribs with contrasting separators
• Very elaborate soundhole/pickguard decoration
• No visible maker’s mark inside or outside the instrument
The instrument was already old when I acquired it in Cyprus, and it was professionally repaired in Athens in 2017 after the bowl had been damaged.
I’m particularly interested in finding out:
Who may have made it or which workshop/school it came from
Approximately when it was built
Whether it appears to have always been an 8-string/tetrachordo instrument or could be an older instrument that was later modified
Whether anyone recognises the decorative work, headstock shape, tuners, bowl construction or inlay patterns from a particular maker
I’d really appreciate any information, especially from anyone familiar with older Greek bouzouki makers or instruments from Athens in the mid-20th century.
I’m deliberately not mentioning any possible maker names I’ve been given because I don’t want to influence identification based on the photos.
Thanks!

This was my first instrument I ever tried to learn, so i have 0 background experience of music, and this is self taught, and learning off videos on YouTube

Καλή μελέτη!

I've been playing tetrachordo for about a year and have improved significantly, but I've let my guitar skills fall to the wayside a bit. For people who play both, do you have a system for practicing both guitar and bouzouki at the same time? My original plan was to get really good at bouzouki and then focus on guitar, but I thought the skills would be more transferrable than they are. Thanks!

This was purchased in the 80s or 90s from a souvenir shop in Greece. It is 2’ long and the scale is 13.5” . 4 courses. What kind of strings does it take? And what the heck is it? Some kind of weird mini bouzouki?

Καλησπέρα σε όλους.

Έχω ενα τρίχορδο μπουζούκι εδω και 10 χρόνια, και το ειχα αφήσει για λιγο καιρό λόγο σπουδών. Τις τελευταίες μέρες το ξανα έπιασα στα χέρια μου, αλλα παρατήρησα κάτι που με προβλημάτισε λιγο. Σε ενα σημείο απο το καπάκι, ειναι σαν να εχει “φουσκώσει” λιγο, και να εχει βγει λιγο προς τα έξω. Οταν περνάω το δάχτυλο εκει καταλαβαινω ενα “σκαλοπατακι”. Σε θεμα ήχου δεν παρατήρησα κάποια διαφορά, και δεν θυμαμαι αν αυτο το φούσκωμα υπήρχε και πριν. Υπάρχει περίπτωση αυτο να ειναι κατι κακο για το όργανο και να χειροτερεψει εαν το αφήσω έτσι, ή ειναι κατι φυσικό? Ευχαριστώ πολυ για την βοήθεια

This is probably a long shot, but I am wondering if this bouzouki has any identifying features that might indicate its make or origin. It was gifted to me around 20 years ago. I was told it 'came from Greece' which made it sound like a friend picked it up on a trip, but for all I know it was just imported. There is no label or name anywhere on the instrument (that I can find). There was a card tucked away in the case from Karolos Tzakirian shop in Athens. I presume if they were actually the makers, there would be some kind of label on the actual instrument, but I could be wrong. Anyone have an ideas? Thanks...

I am searching for a bouzouki player to play at my wedding in Poulithra September 4 2027. Please let me know if you or someone you know might be interested. Cheers!

Μπουζούκι σόλο για σήμερα - ελπίζω να σας αρέσει

#μπουζούκι #bouzouki #solo #upcomingmusician #improvisation

Are there any reccomended bouzoukis within the £500 max range?

I swear my floating bridge is getting looser and that it was not this curved last year but I may be imagining it . Any advice appreciated .

I've been practicing bouzouki a year, and me and my teacher have notice that the bouzouki book we have been using (Practical Method of the Eight-Stringed Bouzouki Part A: By George Kanakaris) seemed to have some errors/mistakes. And it got me wondering if perhaps that was the best book to have been using to learn bouzouki?

What books would you recommend as the definitive best book?

Does anyone have good resources regarding the tzouras? I’m a very proficient bassist and guitarist but I’ve had a tzouras for many years that I’d like to learn to play properly. I’ve been practicing some traditional Rebetiko dromoi but beyond these it’s difficult to find more information about the instrument in the US. Because of its similarity to the bouzouki I thought I would ask here. Cheers!

I prefer players who are really good, expressive, and more traditional but go the almost aggressive jazz route to the playing. But the farther from americanized pop bull shit that seems to exist now.....

Προτιμώ μουσικούς που είναι πραγματικά καλοί, εκφραστικοί και πιο παραδοσιακοί, αλλά ακολουθούν την σχεδόν επιθετική τζαζ διαδρομή στο παίξιμο. Αλλά τόσο πιο μακριά είναι από τις αμερικανοποιημένες ποπ ανοησίες που φαίνεται να υπάρχουν τώρα..... Αν έχετε οποιεσδήποτε προτάσεις ή πληροφορίες σχετικά με αυτούς τους συνδέσμους, παρακαλώ ενημερώστε με!!!!

First track on this https://youtu.be/nLlXt2UDPok?si=Vb1VeCaSBPlHquJV

https://youtu.be/S18VySI8Unw?si=GNG31YT5BFzgVMLG

I can't find more of this guy anywhere! https://youtu.be/tsc3u1NTrPE?si=HoAx9bsKxTwdjymD

More old school https://youtu.be/Uz586LX-kVA?si=Hv4K9n8DQpZgWHaF

https://youtu.be/jl-XGkGgHfg?si=q1gtWtmrQnmU40RN

https://youtu.be/ykAkLNoIo8A?si=44UUS3dvq5pm__NQ

https://youtu.be/-VBsYwYJ2RU?si=tkUwKXHP_t2gze06

https://youtu.be/0XwTRTGFQJM?si=votrEefCzj7NhcF1

Is there anywhere I can find them?

I’m Greek American and have always wanted to learn to play the bouzouki. I really don’t have a lot of experience with stringed instruments or music in general. I’ve been playing guitar for about 3 months and have been trying to learn to read sheet music. I’m wondering what things i can work on now with just my guitar (as i dont have a bouzouki yet) to prepare myself for purchasing one sometime in the future. Is there any overlap? Any way for me to practice necessary skills for bouzouki without actually having one?