Teak and Spruce: The Apollonio Cittern

[Rob Zamites]

I'll just leave these here:

[garryireland]

I'll just leave these here:

Somebody has the same initials as you Rob!

[GKWilson]

Is there a story with the teak Rob?
Nico is known to use wood from the old wood sailboats he rehabs.
Could be from a pirate ship. AAARG.
But seriously, his instruments have such a great sound of there own.
We need to hear it. Please please, please.
Gary

[Rob Zamites]

Somebody has the same initials as you Rob!

OMG!

Is there a story with the teak Rob?
Nico is known to use wood from the old wood sailboats he rehabs.
Could be from a pirate ship. AAARG.
But seriously, his instruments have such a great sound of there own.
We need to hear it. Please please, please.
Gary

I don't know if there's a story about the teak or not, I'll ask him. I haven't gotten it yet, I still owe him a wee bit more, but should have it paid off in the next few weeks. He was actually happy that he didn't have to send it immediately, as he wanted more time for, as he put it, "enriching and adjusting it"

I told him although I was starting to build instruments, those were going to be sold cheap or given away, and this cittern would be my sole learning/playing instrument. That said, anyone wanna buy a Mandobeast cheap?

[garryireland]

OMG!



I don't know if there's a story about the teak or not, I'll ask him. I haven't gotten it yet, I still owe him a wee bit more, but should have it paid off in the next few weeks. He was actually happy that he didn't have to send it immediately, as he wanted more time for, as he put it, "enriching and adjusting it"

I told him although I was starting to build instruments, those were going to be sold cheap or given away, and this cittern would be my sole learning/playing instrument. That said, anyone wanna buy a Mandobeast cheap?

I offered ypu that a few months ago!

[Rob Zamites]

I offered ypu that a few months ago!

I can change my mind, you know! But then again, you're stocked with instruments now, and I'm not gonna ship to Ireland

[Teak]

Hey, you talkin' about me?



FWIW, I have a bunch of teak furniture, purchased in SE Asia and shipped back to the dry Midwest. The drop in humidity has not been kind to the furniture. Make sure that teak is kiln dried a long time before using it.

[garryireland]

I can change my mind, you know! But then again, you're stocked with instruments now, and I'm not gonna ship to Ireland

I only have my OM. Thats not stocked!

[allenhopkins]

Just bought (used, but very gently) one of Apollonio's 12-string guitars, vintage 2000.

It's a fixed-bridge model that he calls (wait for it!) the "Count Bassy." And it is.

[Rob Zamites]

Just bought (used, but very gently) one of Apollonio's 12-string guitars, vintage 2000.

It's a fixed-bridge model that he calls (wait for it!) the "Count Bassy." And it is.

And what is your impression?

[allenhopkins]

And what is your impression?

Very well made, with highly flamed koa back and sides, cedar top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and headstock overlay with an inlaid mother-of-pearl sailboat.

Zero fret, which is unusual, but not for Apollonios, I guess. Non-pin bridge, with individual string holes, and the balls resting against the back of the bridge. Wide and deep neck; going from six-string to this one, is like going from driving a sedan to a semi. Since I haven't totally recovered from my 2013 broken left wrist, I need to pace myself playing it.

Huge sound; have to restrain myself and not get to flogging away on it. My regular repair guy, looking not at my instrument but at a friend's Apollonio, said,"I wouldn't brace a guitar like that, but you can't argue with the sound."

I should also say, that at a base price somewhere around $2K, these are real bargains. I paid $2.5K for mine, used, but it had some upgrades, and I was satisfied at the value. I had heard Gordon Bok playing Apollonio instruments, and the low-end presence really attracted me. I should get mine out and play Hills of Isle au Haut or Turning Toward the Morning.

[garryireland]

Whats the nut width there Rob? Looks quite wide. Beautiful work though. I may consider a zouk but the shipping costs makes it 50% more expensive. Crazy

[garryireland]

Whats the nut width there Rob? Looks quite wide. Beautiful work though. I may consider a zouk but the shipping costs makes it 50% more expensive. Crazy

Any sign of a video?

[Rob Zamites]

Any sign of a video?

I'm having a bit of a financial crunch right now - Nikos is holding it for me until I finish paying, so, no video at all.

[garryireland]

I'm having a bit of a financial crunch right now - Nikos is holding it for me until I finish paying, so, no video at all.

Look forward to seeing it so.

[Rob Zamites]

Fully paid for, and will be shipped soon!

[Rob Zamites]

This is all:

https://goo.gl/photos/LMdt1aP3jSePH1nB8

[Markkunkel]

This is all:

https://goo.gl/photos/LMdt1aP3jSePH1nB8

Yikes! A nice reminder of the risk that we take whenever we send these precious pieces of playable art by any carrier. Hope all gets sorted soon...and let's hope this ISN'T "all"!

[Mike Anderson]

This is all:

https://goo.gl/photos/LMdt1aP3jSePH1nB8

Oh, have mercy! That is just awful Rob. The carrier needs to come through with a full refund for you.

Coincidentally, I was just told by an overseas seller moments ago that they did not wish to sell me a nice Abnett because of the shipping horror stories they've witnessed.

[JH Murray]

That is sad news indeed. I hope you can get this resolved and hopefully repaired or replaced. Sad indeed.

[Rob Zamites]

Yikes! A nice reminder of the risk that we take whenever we send these precious pieces of playable art by any carrier. Hope all gets sorted soon...and let's hope this ISN'T "all"!

Oh, have mercy! That is just awful Rob. The carrier needs to come through with a full refund for you.

Coincidentally, I was just told by an overseas seller moments ago that they did not wish to sell me a nice Abnett because of the shipping horror stories they've witnessed.

That is sad news indeed. I hope you can get this resolved and hopefully repaired or replaced. Sad indeed.

I'm working with Nikos, we're both of the opinion that I can do this repair - not that I'm not still going to file the claim. Just having bad luck with citterns, I guess.

[zoukboy]

Who was the carrier?

[Rob Zamites]

Dammit, this forum cannot parse "USPS" correctly.

[Nick Gellie]

Rob, It might have held up better if it had been shipped in a hard shell case. I presume that it was a soft shell case from the photos.

[allenhopkins]

Looks like it was shipped in a Taylor guitar cardboard box, under string tension (?). Was the box filled with packing peanuts, bubble wrap, whatever? Am I right about the string tension?

Honestly, I'm surprised that it would be shipped that way. Hardshell cases for instruments like this are not easy to come by, though perhaps a resonator banjo case might have worked. And Apollonio is known for atypical construction methods, at times; looks like the neck was bolted on (again, ?); there's not a full dovetail, but a bar extending from the neck, under the top, into the neck block.

Whatever its characteristics, the instrument obviously took a pretty good hit somewhere enroute. Go after the shipper!