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mateo4x4
PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:01 pm 
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Thought I'd share a fun little project I finished recently. It is based on an old Russian style folk instrument called a Balalaika (pronounced similar to bal-a-like-a, if my source was right). The originals were 3 string and ranged in size from soprano (fairly small...uke sized maybe) to contra bass...they were BIG! I decided to make a variation on one using birch ply for the back and a mix of birch and figured cherry for the top. The neck is taken from a donor 4 string fretless (well, it had frets some time ago but a previous owner had changed that). It's a little awkward to play, considering the shape/size, but sounds suprisingly strong, loud and good. My name for it? The Kind-a-Laika. laughing6-hehe

anyway...enjoy.
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-Matthew


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Link Van Cleave
PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:59 am 
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Matthew,
That's pretty cool. I love old folk instruments like that. Do you know any of the traditional music that was played on it ?
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Edward Taylor
PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:29 pm 
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Thats pretty cool, I like unusual instruments. Is the soundboard braced?
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Dave Stewart
PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:05 pm 
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Ahhh...Zhivago! .....my little place in Yuriatin! [:Y:]

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mateo4x4
PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:04 pm 
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Dave Stewart wrote:
Ahhh...Zhivago! .....my little place in Yuriatin! [:Y:]


Yep...that was on a more 'alto' sized instrument, I think.

The top is braced...just lateral for support on the glue joints. I'll see if I can get a mirror/light into those tiny holes for a pic.
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the Padma
PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:21 pm 
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Yo, 4 x 4

Nice! Thank you for posting this.

Love to see traditional folk instruments done up like this.

One of my early ones were a balalaika. It got away from me some 40 years ago.

Seeing yours has inspired me to tackle a 6 string virsion...2 x 2 x 2 .... you know sorta like a 4 x 4 laughing6-hehe


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mateo4x4
PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:01 pm 
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the Padma wrote:
Seeing yours has inspired me to tackle a 6 string virsion...2 x 2 x 2 .... you know sorta like a 4 x 4 laughing6-hehe


oh man...you can tell it's a long day...took me a WHILE to get that one. :-)
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douglas ingram
PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:13 pm 
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Looks supersonic!

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mateo4x4
PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:27 am 
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douglas ingram wrote:
Looks supersonic!


Yeah, but you still don't get more than a bag of peanuts and a flat soda for the in-flight meal. laughing6-hehe
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Antonio
PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:47 pm 
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Some videos about the balalaika:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh9-D6W3Sy4

Alexei Arkhipovskiy - Sharmanka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6pPP2kfHzU

QUARTET "SKAZ"
Brahms: Hungarian dance № 5 / Balalaika string
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsmVCIWBoRU
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