J bovier folk family is here

**coletrickle** · Feb-26-2008, 5:29pm

Looks like the long awaited (by me) J Bovier folk family has arrived. I was hoping someone would start a topic about these, especially since the mandos get a lot of bandwidth here. Obviously they are limited right now but has anyone seen them first hand yet?

**Steve L** · Feb-26-2008, 5:37pm

They were supposed to come out in Dec/Jan. An ad appeared a day or two ago in the classifieds here saying they had prototypes of a couple of mandolas and 1 (count 'em) bouzouki. I sent an email yesterday asking about top wood, scale length and price of the zouk and have heard nada. I've been waiting for these too but Peterson is looking like a more likely alternative for me if they're importing bouzoukis one at a time.

**Richard Russell** · Feb-26-2008, 6:44pm

As a very satisfied JBovier mandolin owner (A5 model), I recommend that everyone give them a chance. If you emailed Jeff at JBovier, you WILL get a reply! He is one of the best around as far as customer service and will help you with any questions you have. Jeff is taking the approach of doing it right with these instruments and it shows in their playability and sound. With the mandolins, they have been built with all of the functional features that make playing them a dream and that make them sound great. The finish is not too thick, the fretboards are straight, radiused and have lg. frets. The tops are not too thick, the woods are nice, the tuners are quality, and so on. I believe the CBOMs will be built with the same approach. I look forward to hearing about how they play and sound, and I think it's worth the wait, if they will end up being a true quality instrument.

**coletrickle** · Feb-26-2008, 7:19pm

Yes, I've heard nothing but positive feedback regarding his mandos so I expect the other family instruments will follow suite. For me it may be worth waiting for the first round to come and go. I know that his current line up of F and A mandos are a second generation model with improvements and upgrades. Depending on how these go over perhaps something similar will happen down the road. I wonder how they will be priced? Similar to TCs? If so I would certainly go for one of these.

I would venture the delays on getting round one out is a matter of quality control as that seems to be his biggest concern.

**Steve L** · Feb-26-2008, 8:17pm

When I was coresponding with someone in the company, the plan was to price them between the Trinity College stuff and someone like Peterson with an entry level instrument around $1000. So I would guess in the $600-$750 range. They already have new competition in this price point from Gypsy. I've got a Trinity College zouk with a collapsing top and thought these might make a great replacement, which they very well may. Based on the aforemetioned correspondence, I really thought there would be more than 1 prototype in the country by now.

**steve V. johnson** · Feb-26-2008, 9:17pm

I always expected that they'd probably have an MSRP in the $1k range, perhaps a little higher. My memory is unclear but I think that I wrote to Jeff at one of the first mentions of them and my impression was that they would be priced to signal that their place in the market was above the TC, etc., position.

That's a tough price point and so the product will have to uphold the price by delivering more than the TCs and challenging the Petersens and the luthier models in the used market.

Good luck to them, and I look forward to some exciting models from them.

stv

**coletrickle** · Feb-26-2008, 9:57pm

Interesting move towards the 1K market that is indeed where they end up. I would think it would be tough to compete with US made models here...just a thought. I guess we will just have to see what happens. I'm surprised no prototypes made their way to any trade shows this year, unless they did and I just missed it.

**Richard Russell** · Feb-26-2008, 10:03pm

I see your point Steve L. #It would seem that more would be available by now, especially considering the more basic construction of these, as compared w/the arched and carved top models. #Hope someone on the cafe buys one real soon!! #

**coletrickle** · Feb-28-2008, 8:26am

Anyone find anything else out about these yet?

**Steve L** · Feb-28-2008, 2:23pm

I know a bit more. I just got off the phone with Jeff and you couldn't talk to a nicer guy. He's pretty much a one man operation and I feel a little bad that I sounded a bit snarky in my earlier posts. He got a few mandos, mandolas, one octave (20"scale) and 2 zouks (25" scale) to make sure everything is okay before he plunges in. So far he likes what he sees. He's not a zouk guy as he readily admits but I'm sure he knows if something isn't right.

He had 2 bouzoukis. I don't know who got the first, but I just bought the other. Cedar top, rosewood back and sides(solid woods), cast tailpiece, radiused ebony board, unison strung. $850 without case...it just sounded too good to pass up.

He's been really busy and has trouble keeping up with emails. If you want details on the other instruments or arrival dates on more stock call him, he's a really nice guy. There's a 3% upcharge on credit card purchases which bumps the price up a bit but it should be a lot of zouk for less than a grand.

**coletrickle** · Feb-28-2008, 2:57pm

Thanks for the update Steve L. Let us know what you think when you get it. Any indication when round two shipments will come in? His shop is right on the way down to my buddies in KY so I think the next time I make the trip I'm gonna stop in and check them. I imagine by then the octave his has will be long gone.

**JEStanek** · Feb-28-2008, 3:16pm

By all means, post a photo when it comes in too.

Jamie

**steve V. johnson** · Feb-28-2008, 4:24pm

Congratulations, SteveL, on your new zouk!

We'll await details. I hope you're delighted with it!

stv

**fiddler59** · Feb-28-2008, 4:43pm

I bough the other zouk and it is a wonderful instrument....cedar top, rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard.....$850.00 price (case is extra) is just too good to pass up. Jeff is a GREAT person to deal with and the zouk is a great instrument. Very resonant, a big jump up from Trinty College stuff IMHO. I am sure the mandos and mandolas are just as nice.

David Blackmon

PS-- It's a heck of a lot of zouk for less than a grand !!!

**Steve L** · Feb-28-2008, 4:53pm

David, thanks for posting. I must admit to a slight case of the "what have I done"s but it really sounded like a can't miss deal with those tonewoods and appointments. And I wanted to move before Jeff figures out you can't sell rosewood zouks for that kind of money.

Do you play Irish music and could you describe the sound/volume characaristics a bit?

**Steve L** · Feb-28-2008, 6:45pm

Originally Posted by (sliabhstv @ Feb. 28 2008, 17:24)

Congratulations, SteveL, on your new zouk!

We'll await details. #I hope you're delighted with it!

stv

Thanks Steve. Jeff has some set up work to do and I told him not to hurry. He seems to think it'll ship in a week and I'll file a report when I've had a chance to play it.