Balalaika tuned down with thicker strings?

[pinkmoon]

If I got an alto balalaika (normally tuned to E3 E3 A3 an octave below a prima) would I be able to put thicker strings on it and tune it down lower? How much could I get away with?

Or what about on a balalaika prima for that matter?

I realize they have tenors and seconds but I don't want to have to buy 5 balalaikas

Thanks!

[DavidKOS]

Yes you could find thicker string gauges that could tune the instrument lower.

However, the body size on a balalaika is designed for the pitch range, so you may not get the full resonance of a lower tuning.

[pinkmoon]

However, the body size on a balalaika is designed for the pitch range, so you may not get the full resonance of a lower tuning.

More so than a guitar or a different stringed instrument?

Thanks!

[DavidKOS]

More so than a guitar or a different stringed instrument?

Thanks!

It's an odd thing, but the triangle body is supposedly part of the design and resulting tone color of the Andreyev system balalaika family.

That's why they have so many sizes to support the various tunings from piccolo to bass.

[pinkmoon]

It's an odd thing, but the triangle body is supposedly part of the design and resulting tone color of the Andreyev system balalaika family.

That's why they have so many sizes to support the various tunings from piccolo to bass.

Thanks! Can you tell me what the difference is between a cheap balalaika and a more expensive one? For example this one compared to this one?

[DavidKOS]

And there's this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Russian-bal...75.c100623.m-1

The difference is quality of wood and workmanship. The first and cheaper of the instruments you asked about looks OK, actually. The $500 one has better grade wood and such. Both would be good for a beginner.