Andy Tobin Custom Large Body Bouzouki

[Andy Tobin]

Hi All

I've just finished building an LBB for a customer in Co. Clare. He already has an SBB which he loves, but this commission was to be a special instrument. He wanted to include some woods from trees at his fathers home in West Clare, namely some Yew, Ash, Sycamore and Bog Oak, which he had cut small sections from, dried out and then and sent to me. Now, you couldn't describe these as ‘tonewoods’ so they were going to be used decoratively around the instrument. So after a wee bit of thought, we decided that the rosette could be from the Bog Oak, the front and back of the headstock could be veneered in Yew with a decorative inlay from Bog Oak and Sycamore and the heel could be from thin strips of all 4 woods.

I really enjoy projects like this, and I really enjoyed building the instrument. He also wanted a LR Baggs Stagepro Element pickup fitted to the bouzouki, Gotoh SGL 510 machine heads and flame maple bindings. And so here are some photos of the finished instrument - oh, and it sounds pretty good too!!

















All the best

Andy

www.tobininstruments.co.uk

[Shan Andy]

Wow. That is truly lovely

[Reinhardt]

Wow Andy, that looks fantastic, Seanie is going to be delighted with the end result. It's a really nice touch incorporating woods that have a special personal meaning for him, will make him treasure the instrument even more. Seanie is a very respected and active player in the hot bed of trad music, County Clare so don't be surprised if you get a few orders from those mad westerners!! I hope Seanie likes his new zouk as much as I love, adore, treasure and care for my own Tobin Large Body. I've had it over 10 years now and have bought and sold a load of bouzoukis during that time. The Tobin is going to be buried with me though. Better keep an eye out for grave robbers when I kick the bucket!!!

John

[Reinhardt]

Meant to say in my previous post, I love the tuners. Classy Classy Classy!!

John