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Pretty sure the auditions are over. Great job regardless man.

Excellent video. Quite agree about different types of backs. I play an Ozark 2243e. I'm not the slimmest person so if I hold tight against my body or move it away there is definitely a difference, so this means to me that the back must be vibrating to quite an extent.

Presumably the Sobell, being new, is not properly played in. It might sound much better in a year or two.

Excellent video. I enjoyed this and Part 1 very much. I have a slight preference for the Sobell, it seems to have a slightly keener edge which would cut through in a session, but there is very little in it. You can get individual wound strings from Eagle Music. They go down to a 16 gauge, nickel or phosphor bronze, loop or ball end. If you fancy doing a part 3 I'd really like to hear a comparison between the two 12-string instruments on your web site. For Part 4, I'm not far from you and have a Jimmy Moon 10string, a Paul Doyle custom from 1979 and a Gazouki (or Bizarre?) made by Andy Rogers.

Helo Do you know any irish bouzuoki makers Im looking that Where could i find and get irish bouzuoki?? How could i check out i dont know the any ideas , please if you know irish bouzuoki instrument makers or any website , social accounts ID. i will definitely check it out

Thank you! I am in the market for a luthier-built bouzouki right now and the lack of high quality recordings was making the process infuriating. Interested to hear if you’ve had the chance to play any of Paul Shippey’s.

Lovely instruments ! I think the Oddy tenor guitar may sound better (less buzzy) if tuned to the traditional C-G-D-A.

I have Foley Bouzouki I got 1998 , I've had to repair some but still good ..I've only seen 3 in America. I assume Mr Foley still alive

I have a 90s vintage Octavius which I ultimately decided to modify to ditch the octave strings in favor of unison courses. It wasn't punchy enough for the tumultuous sessions I was doing at the time; the guitar bridge seemed to make for a quieter sound. In any event it has aged nicely & gotten louder & sweeter-sounding. I now use it in my home studio for a variety of exotica. Guitar bridge seems to make it friendlier to aggressive processing, with both a mic and (especially) the Highlander pickup.

I have a similar Stefan Sobell (1986) and a Fylde. My Fylde is a longer scale and I also use octave strings with it. They are both beautiful, the Sobell has a bit more punch and with the shorter scale makes jigs and reels a tad easier. The Fylde for singing is just georgeous, deep rich sound. Love them both. There is a definite body thickness between the 2, the Fylde being quite a bit thicker with the smaller sound hole as he stated. Workmanship on both blows me away, don't know how they Roger and Stefan have the patience to be so exact! I cannot find a flaw anywhere!

I admire Stefan’s craftsmanship & design. However, it’s the Fylde Long scale bouzouki for me if I was to judge by this video. Its sound isn’t as raspy as the Sobel and seems a tad mellower/warmer. Would have liked to have heard some single note melody runs mixed in with chords. Sobell’s are now in the stratosphere price wise & maybe well worth it but again, as a working pro, the Fylde would seem more justifiable too!

I have both a Fylde Longscale bouzouki and a Fylde Octavius, and a Sobell. The Longscale is my favourite, a lovely tone and light action; the Ocvtavius is warmer and deeper, and the Sobell is a very deep, very loud tone, and not as 'forgiving' as the Fylde. I dislike the chord 'thrashing' rhythm-guitar-style that many musicians do on the bouzouki, often allowing open strings to hide a multitude of sins, but for slow picking or tune playing, and Andy-Irvine-style fingering, the Fylde Longscale is great. Good strings, phosphor bronze are my preference, make all the difference.

A lovely song and a great tribute.

So, this song has just been given the award for 'Best Track of the Year' from Fatea Magazine. 😀

Stunning instruments! Thanks for sharing them. I would love to hear them played without such a hard attack and to hear tunes being played on them as well.

The Sobell presented as more brazen at first but the Fylde tarted up equally well once in the spotlight. I believe when I make it to heaven 🤗 and get to play both 😄 one could make them sound almost exactly alike through picking & strumming variations. Under such excellent and precise examination I was most interested to note a chorus-y effect on the thicker paired strings which changed ever so slightly as the gap widened or reduced relevant to finger position and pressure. I have >always< tuned my 12's via tuning fork, vibration and ear so maybe the effect is relevant to me only? or it might be that no two zouks have ever been compared with such top notch (digital), recording equipment before. Wonderful comparison, thank you.

Wow

Hi, Clifford Essex have wound A's in Phosphor Bronze, I have them on my Fylde's. That Sobell is a beautiful instrument, and it sounds great, such sustain. Got to say, though, that the Fylde shades it for me.

Both holy grail instruments. Just gorgeous. I was surprised to hear Roger Bucknall say that the smaller soundhole emphasizes the bass. I think that truth is audible here. Spectacular instruments. Thanks for this posting.

my 1998 Octavious has Sapele back and sides with the cedar top.

Hi . Using a Radius dish and Go-Deck helps achieve lovely curves for the back of Instruments. Keep up the good work.

Love this video, thank you. I play a Joe Foley instrument, and have had two guitars converted into guizouks. Thanks for those string gauges. Are your lower strings phosphor bronze? Which are your favorites?

Have you ever played a Joe Foley bouzouki and if so what did you think of it?

Great comparison

Nice video - enjoyed it! Favourite is the last Fylde. I have a MacNeela which is spruce with rosewood back and sides, I find it quite powerful when it needs to be. Just a hobbyist but absolutely love the sound these things produce. Well done!

Thanks for the fair and rigorous comparison. I am currently looking at buying a bouzouki, probably long scale Irish. My favourite of yours is the first one with octave 3rd and 4th courses. What is more, as common with these instruments, the octave up strings are hit first (nearer to player’s head. On my Kamaka 8-string ukulele this comes as standard and my ‘new’ renaissance 4-course guitar I had custom-string that way. It is clearly written up as a historical option for providing the bell- Ike jangle that I love. However, as you pointed out, your last demo with the Brazilian rosewood back also had that sound! Amazing. The only wild card for me is the fixed bridge on first and floating on last demo. Wonderful instruments those 2 and so well presented thanks again and best wishes. Martin

Thanks for the Video

O yay~! Anything regarding Celtic Bouzouks is welcome! Longscale is my preference, unless you can change my mind 8-). I don't own one just yet. (other side of the world/Land of Oz). Subbed!

Pretentious hipster bullshit

MY UNCLES ROCK !!!! X

hey sean and paul x from daisy x

I was there(I was the sound guy). great set guys