Choosing a new CHARANGO

Choosing a new CHARANGO - tips & thoughts on finding the best one for you!
Look out for :
1. Wood, look at the quality of the wood
2. Action, no dead notes
3. Luthier, source of the instrument, get in contact with the instrument maker
4. Waterfall, play waterfall up from Fret 1 to Fret 12 (check octave)
5. Strings, how are the strings
6. Strap, are there strap buttons?
7. Play, how's it sound and feel playing it?
When a charango is aligned with us and ... "the right one"... often one picks the instrument up and songs come out. Be attuned to that happening - or not.
Also, check the frets and make sure they don't stick out over the first string (to ensure smooth sliding along the neck).
Charango 1 by Pedro Quispe Torrez (La Paz, Bolivia)
Charango 2 by Los Hermanos Chavarry (Lima, Peru)
Charango 3 by Sabino Huaman (Cusco, Peru)
Thank you so much Sal for filming this and lending your beautiful charango to the video!
Presented by Monique Mizrahi, Charango With Monique
IG / charangowithmonique
Filmed by Sal Perez on March 9th, 2024
IG / salva.seres
Styling by Drea Marrero
IG / thedarkhippie144
Los Angeles, California
#newcharango #charangoluthier #newinstrument #charango #choosingacharango

[@chromakey84]

Thank you 🙏

[@kevinberstler]

I recently just met Sabino Huamán in his home/shop. Very nice guy and great luthier. I tried a few of his charangos. All great quality.

[@CharangoWithMonique]

That's awesome Kevin, very cool to hear. Thanks for sharin'!

[@JuanSarmienro]

Thank you for show the Charango to World😊

[@CharangoWithMonique]

Thanks Juan, it's a pleasure and honor to do so! 🎸

[@bobbarker14]

Excellent information here. Thanks!

[@CharangoWithMonique]

Thank you!

[@cesarsainz6846]

Hello: This morning by chance I discovered your KZbin channel and after listening to some songs I subscribed. I love that there are people outside of Latin America who are fascinated by the magic of this instrument. Somewhere on your channel I read that you feel that it is an instrument that connects you with the universe and the whole. This happened to me the first time I heard it many years ago. I lived in Chile for 5 years and there I learned to play the charango a little (I bought one in Valparaíso). When I returned to Spain I had forgotten about it for a few years, but a year after the pandemic I returned to it. Shortly after, I discovered the ronroco and bought one during confinement. Work leaves me little free time to play these instruments, but the time I manage to find for it always rewards me and makes me find and feel at peace with myself, with others and with the universe. Good luck with your channel, delighted to have discovered you and greetings from Valencia (Spain).

[@CharangoWithMonique]

Hi Cesar in Valencia (lovely city!), Thank you for writing & welcome to my channel, with the goal to share more magical charango-related content. I sure do feel that the charango connects us with ourselves and the cosmos (an extension of ourselves), with our strings gracefully expanding out in a SPIRAL, then back in to the center string. Delighted to hear you’ve returned to playing your charango and have got a ronroco too. Thanks so much also for the good luck, which I’ll gladly receive - and feel free to write if you have any special requests for future videos or song tutorials:) Cheers & blessings! p.s. Yes it’s interesting playing such an iconic Andean instrument not being from the Andes. I do so with deep reverence & respect - and am so grateful to have come across the charango on a visit to La Paz some 20 years ago, the charango our life-long ally!

[@cesarsainz6846]

@@CharangoWithMonique Hi Monique: I loved your words in response to mine. I am glad to see that you are perfectly aware of the connection of our own soul with the soul of the universe and the role that music and our favorite instruments play in it. In my case; mainly the ronroco, the charango and the guitar. I've had it in mind for some time now to make a split screen music video. Recordings can be made with people who are in different places (even countries) and I have discovered some really good ones on KZbin. I am attaching this video that I think you are very likely to know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/maO7m56PZrZ1mc0 Where could I write to you if I have any special requests for future videos? I saw that you have Instagram and I also signed up to follow you. Greetings, blessings and my best wishes for your musical and personal future.

[@CharangoWithMonique]

@@cesarsainz6846 Yes, the charango an extension of our soul and heart, a connection to the upper world and to our higher selves… Very cool idea about doing a split screen music video, this is my email : [e-mail] - feel free to write me there with any ideas, requests and such. Delighted and open to collaborating! Many blessings to you as well on this magical path of music, life, charango and discoveries. Cheers!

[@jaimeart100]

Please talk about the prices of your pretty charangos. Thanks.😮

[@CharangoWithMonique]

Hi there! So the first and the third are not for sale, the second one is (the Ayacucho-style flat back charango) Send me an email at [e-mail] and I'll share the pricing with you, cheers💫

[@jaimeart100]

How much do you charge for charango lessons on line. Thanks.

[@CharangoWithMonique]

Hi again! Here too, please send me an email and I'll share my rates, which are sliding scale in order to have the charango accessible to more people. EmaiL:[e-mail]

[@jorgs9508]

Thanks for the video!! It's really useful, the only problem that I have is, that i haven't been able to find a store, retailer that sells them, can you recommend me a place or website? Thanks! 😊

[@CharangoWithMonique]

Hi there! Where are you located? It can be quite a challenge to find a charango in many places. Right now at McCabe's Guitar Shop in LA they have a Villela charango for sale, for instance - and when possible it's so nice to check the instrument out in person before buying (though I realize not always possible). So I'll see if I can recommend a store or charango luthier near where you live...

[@jorgs9508]

@@CharangoWithMonique Hii! Thanks for answering, I'm located in Whittier, CA, I'm looking for a Charango Andean or Bolivian style the closest to that.. almost like the one that Inti Illimani uses 😄

[@CharangoWithMonique]

Hey that's great@@jorgs9508! You might really like the one available at McCabe's. I'd recommend trying it out in person, or calling them directly for more info 310.828.4497 www.mccabes.com/ (mention I sent you). Also feel free to email me ([e-mail])and if timing aligns we could even meet up there and I can help you on your mission the charango you're looking for. Cheers!

[@jorgs9508]

@@CharangoWithMonique thanks soo muuuch!! So nice of you! I'll let you know then, going to check their website first 😊

[@sunnyangel4521]

Just play it when you look for an instrument, this is the first rule.

[@chromakey84]

Easier said than done…. They don’t have any charangos in Denver

[@mustamuri]

✨🦙✨ 👶👏❤️

[@mushroommann100]

cool instument! Wouldn’t trade my guitar for it though 😂

[@CharangoWithMonique]

Yes, the charango is a super cool instrument... guitar is pretty cool too!😊