Romanian Cobza I just finished building

**Dusepo** · Dec-30-2017, 8:14am

Here's a Romanian Cobza I just finished building.
All spruce, cherry and ash.

**Paul Busman** · Dec-30-2017, 8:23am

Nice work. Are those X sound holes traditional? What's the rectangular dark patch between the sound holes and bridge?
We need audio!

**Dusepo** · Dec-30-2017, 8:51am

Originally Posted by Paul Busman

Nice work. Are those X sound holes traditional? What's the rectangular dark patch between the sound holes and bridge?
We need audio!

The X holes are indeed a traditional design for this instrument.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=co...ih=931#imgrc=_

The dark 'patch' is a pickguard. It's usually played with a long thin plectrum like the oud.

**Jim Garber** · Dec-30-2017, 7:25pm

How big is this instrument? I can’t really tell if it is Mandolin size or our size. How do you tune it? Metal or nylon strings?

**Graham McDonald** · Dec-30-2017, 7:57pm

Here is a wonderful old photo of a Romanian trio with a cobza which will give an indication of size.

Click image for larger version.

Name: cobza-trio.jpg
Views: 54
Size: 26.2 KB
ID: 163612

**gweetarpicker** · Dec-30-2017, 9:38pm

Looks something like an oud but with only four courses of strings. How is it tuned?

**Graham McDonald** · Dec-30-2017, 10:03pm

The wonderful atlasofpluckedinstruments.com suggests GG dd gg c'c' or dd aa d'd' g'g'

**Dusepo** · Dec-31-2017, 5:38am

Sorry for the slow reply. I was sleeping!
Mine has a scale length of 46cm. They are usually between 45-48cm.
It is indeed related to the oud, and may have become part of Romanian music from either central Asian or Turkish trade and/or invasion.
Mine is tuned DD AA dd gg.

**Dusepo** · Dec-31-2017, 8:25am

Here's a sound sample!

The shorter scale length vs oud which is my main fretless experience and the fact the strings are still settling in tune makes it a bit out of tune in places, but you get the idea.