Irish Bouzouki Strings

Subject: Davey: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: Walt B.
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 06:42 PM

I just received my Trinity College Irish Bouzouki and I am very pleased with its appearance and, from a novice view, its "playability." You wrote previously that strings make a difference in tone. Would you please let me know what type, guage, etc. you recommend for different sounds? Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: AKS
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 02:39 AM

Noteworthy information on buzuki (among others) is available at: http://www.execpc.com:80/~danb/text_files/cittern.html

greets AKS

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: Herge
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 03:21 PM

Personally I use medium gague unison strings as oppossed to octave strings, and I find they sound well at Irish sessions

Herge

Subject: String gages for irish bouzouki
From: GUEST
Date: 29 May 07 - 01:14 PM

I'm tring to restring my 'zouk with the octive setup at the lowest two pairs of strings. I have the following set of strings:

.040 - 2
.028 - 2
.16 - 2
.11 - 2

Do I split the 40's and the 28's for 2 sets of octives? Do I get another set of strings, and use the light gage srings for the high octive?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: Les from Hull
Date: 29 May 07 - 05:18 PM

You've got a set for octave strung bouzouki. The .16s and .11s are OK as these strings are always double strung, but you'll need another .11 to go with the .28 and another .16 to go with .40.

The cheapest way to go would be to get single guitar strings in the gauges you need and carefully remove the ball (the little brass thing at the end) to leave loop ends. You can do this with a pair of side-cut pliers by 'nibbling' away at one side to remove it and pulling the rest away. I hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: michaelr
Date: 29 May 07 - 08:12 PM

For all bouzouki-related questions, I find the "Cittern" group on Yahoo! Groups most helpful. Lots of players, some of them well-known professionals, as well as builders.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 May 07 - 09:07 PM

"...carefully remove the ball (the little brass thing at the end) to leave loop ends" Everytime I've tried doing that I've ended cutting the string.

Here's a site I found with advice on a DIY alternative. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks straightforward enough.

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 29 May 07 - 11:02 PM

If you have a Dremel tool, get a cutting wheel, and it is easy to lop off the brass ball (okay it's not really a ball, more of a cylinder) end without hitting the string...if you are careful.

BTW, go with the unison, not the octave (IMHO).

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: Jim Lad
Date: 29 May 07 - 11:13 PM

Yous are a hoot. Can you not find a shop that will order the correct gauge and length in a loop end string?

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 29 May 07 - 11:15 PM

Of course. But tools are fun.

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: Jim Lad
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:39 AM

You certainly are.
Cheers!
Jim



Kidding..... I'm kidding!

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: mandotim
Date: 30 May 07 - 05:47 AM

Try Newtone Strings; they'll do you a bouzouki or octave mando set in just about any gauge you want. Now available both sides of the pond, I believe.
Tim

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 May 07 - 01:35 PM

Agreed about Newtone Strings. But at times you find yourself needing a loop end string right now, and being able to cobble one up on the spot makes sense.

Here's a really neat little device primarily for the Portuguese guitarra, where there has to be a loop at both ends of the string.

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 30 May 07 - 03:24 PM

I have a TC Octave mandolin and I use mandola strings on it. They may not be long enough for the bouzouki though.
Flatiron used to make an Irish Bouzouki set with octave G and D strings.

Subject: RE: Irish Bouzouki Strings
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 19 Sep 17 - 03:19 PM

I have been looking for a string st for my Ozark 2222 bouzouki which has a scale length of 26".
The strings n th purchased instrument were 08/08, 13/13, 21/?, 28/?
I took off the high octave strings and replaced with some old guitar strings approximately 21 and 28, as I wanted a unison set, which I tune in ADad or GDad.
I then decided to get a new st for the instrument, the standard light weight sets seem to be 11/40. I ordered a set and started to restring the instrument, but quickly realised that the tension was too great, the finger board was bowing and I was in danger of destroying the instrument. I removed these strings quickly. I then bought as single strings 09/09, 14/14, 22/22, 30/30 (ernie ball). These have gone on OK but I did have to tighten the truss rod to get the action back down, would certainly not go heavier than this.
The question is all the commercially available string are much much heavier than the original Ozark set, so what am I missing? I cant find any reference to the sort of light eight set supplied with the instrument or anything close.