Hora bouzouki

[MongoMando]

Anybody have any experience with a low end Romanian Bouzouki called Hora?

Not high expectations, but I like the idea of importing from Romania instead of China just for a change of pace if nothing else.

[Martin Jonas]

Do a search for "Troubadour". Those are the same instruments made by Hora, just relabelled and sold by Dave Kilpatrick in Scotland. There has been lots of discussion in the CBOM forum of Troubadour bouzoukis -- they are solidly-made instruments and capable of being very nice. As a rule, they need a good setup and a new bridge, though, to get the best out of them.

Martin

[Rob Zamites]

I've got one - 23.5" scale. I had it setup by Aaron Cowles (former Gibson K'zoo luthier), and it sounds great. I'm considering putting it up for sale on the classifieds soon, although my friends are encouraging me to not sell it ("you can always use another instrument, Rob!"). I've got a cittern in process from Brian Dean, and I'm considering selling the Hora to pay on the Dean.
What I can tell you about my particular OM is that it's LOUD. Solidly built, but if I was going to tweak it more, I'd put new tuners on it.

[MongoMando]

Thanks for the reply.

Does it have an adjustable truss rod? Does it make you suffer a high action to get that loudness?

[Martin Jonas]

Yes, it does have an adjustable truss rod, with the adjusting bolt accessible through the soundhole. The factory setup has sky-high action, both at the zero fret and the bridge, but playability becomes much better with the zero fret lowered and a lower bridge (ideally, a replacement ebony bridge). How low you can get with the action depends on your playing style: like all zouks, you may well get buzzing at low-to-medium action unless you hit the strings cleanly perpendicular to the fretboard.

Martin