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Thread: c.1910 American-made 6-string Balalaika

  1. #1

    Default c.1910 American-made 6-string Balalaika

    While balalaikas are only tangentially related to mandolins, the six-string models are much more similar as they're steel strung. This is a very fun, early 1900s, American-made one that I finished up yesterday. After messing around in "proper" balalaika tuning, I restrung it lower for that trichordio bouzouki tuning of DAD (which Alec Finn has famously made use of) and I like it quite a bit more that way.

    With a 17 7/8" scale this feels somewhere between a mandola scale and an octave mandolin, but with the fret access of a zouk. Not a bad tradeoff. I still have to compensate the bridge topper but it plays pretty well in tune as is.

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  3. #2
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: c.1910 American-made 6-string Balalaika

    Jake,
    Nice one. Where did you find it? I'd like to hear it.
    Bill

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  5. #3

    Default Re: c.1910 American-made 6-string Balalaika

    Another eBay find. I scour the place for weird stuff like this. I'm doing some clips in just a bit and will share.

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    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: c.1910 American-made 6-string Balalaika

    Any idea what the back wood is?
    Bill

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    Oscar Stern s11141827's Avatar
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    Default Re: c.1910 American-made 6-string Balalaika

    Turns out this instrument is a Rare 6 string Secunda Balalaika which has a Longer Scale Length so it likes the Lower Tuning.

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