Thomann (Hora) Irish Concert Bouzouki - Octave to Unison Conversion

[@ambu6478]

Thank you for this wonderful video. 11:02 I'm thinking of buying a Bozuki similar to this one, and I'm so glad to hear what they sound like and the bit of work that might be required to get the best sound.

[@KenIn_NH]

Alex, THANK YOU for taking the time to put this together. I recently acquired a rehab project bouzouki and looking forward to getting it together, and i looked at many many videos and websites, and the first 2 mins of your video was exactly the info i was looking for! As i'm interested in celtic music, i'll definitely be converting to unison pairs on the 2 lower courses, i have to fit a new bridge and adjust the nut anyway, so thats perfect. Thanks for the comparison playing bit as well, very helpful as well as the slightly heavier string set tip. I picked up a used Luna trinity and its built like a sledgehammer, so heavier strings were already being considered! If that goes well, i'll look at a nicer rig, maybe even build one.

[@tellytulear]

Thanks so much.... I just received a similar IB from Thomann... the action was crazy high. Your steps allowed be to lower it safely and it sounds so sweet now!. You really saved my nut (sorry ... couldn’t resist!)

[@alexmarkham]

I'm glad to hear this video is still helping others years later. I'm afraid I don't get much time to read through comments these days, but I really appreciate you taking the time to write. Hope you're enjoying the bouzouki!

[@Naslund_Music]

Great review! Also - extra points for the Swedish gingersnap box on the floor. ;)

[@mandolin8297]

Hora makes VERY AFFORDABLE but absolutely WONDERFULLY SOUNDING bouzouki / octave mandolins! This instrument is well made of decent wood and the sound far surpasses what the Chinese produce. Perfect for any guitar player who wants to try playing a mandolin. Really perfect for Irish, Celtic, modal Mountain music as well as Serbian and Arab music. Hora is NO beginner to luthiership. Check out their website and video. I wish they made mandolins. Ok, now for the versatility. You can tune the bass G and D strings in unison with wound strings OR you can tune them like a 12 string with one wound string and one bare steel string. And you can tune the bouzouki to standard violin / mandolin tuning OR to others like GDAD or ADAD. It is awkward to hold so I recommend having a luthier install a strap button in the neck heel (do NOT do it yourself unless you know what you're doing). My bouzouki arrived with some sharp fret edges which my luthier had to file down to keep my fingers from bleeding. The action was too high for me so I sanded down the bridge which was easy since the top is flat. I'd like to try a wider bridge to get even more vibration transmission. But anyways I really recommend this instrument. Just because it's made in Rumania and costs less than 300 bucks doesn't mean it's junk.

[@christinequinn5355]

Thank you so much Alex. That was a wonderfully informative and helpful video.

[@alexmarkham]

Thanks Christine. It's great to get such nice feedback!

[@barbarasalisbury4023]

Irish Concert bouzouki,Alex Chris Young in America,and I played in a Irish called Damian Mcpugrews house,made gratuity an meal.,shared with a high school friend,and now trying retire in New Mexico,and the climate is good for myself almost six decades on! Joyous spring and enjoy your page/ KZbin!Chris Young

[@alexmarkham]

Thanks Chris. All the best from the UK!

[@scottishpig]

I saw your synth-- glad to see another fan... I've bought a fiddle off Thomann and it needed replacement strings and some basic mods (nothing a basic guitar fret file couldn't fix)... their instruments are a really good bargain, and this video makes their bouzouki look all the more appealing. Excellent demo, thanks for putting this together!

[@lionsmusic004]

man, I guess you contacted them or they saw your video, because they change specifically every single point you discussed here, they made even a bigger hole in order to reach with the Allen key

[@alexmarkham]

Thanks David. I had no idea that they'd made those changes. I would be amazed if my video had any influence!

[@MGWAIKIDOJITSU]

Proberly did

[@MGWAIKIDOJITSU]

@@alexmarkham great video , just about to purchase my first bouzouki, but with the sound hole not covered

[@kaydenlamont4009]

This is a really good video regarding this particular instrument. I've been thinking on picking up this specific one for awhile now. Because the Fylde ones are just waaaay too expensive, don't get me wrong... I absolutely love the tone on those ones. However it's way out of my budget. I am probably going to have to go through this video if/when I get this so I can do what you did to this thing to get a decent tone out of it. Thanks for this upload man~! c: (You gained a sub for this by the by)

[@alexmarkham]

Kayden Lamont Cheers Kayden! It’s great to hear this sort of feedback. I’m glad I’ve helped you make a decision.

[@herbertaikin9385]

I also have a Hora bouzouki but it is a different model. They are a great quality for the price. I love it. I play with the 3 lower courses octaved, with the lowest G course high string being 2 octaves over the low string. The middle two have a difference of one octave.

[@colauty2598]

Really informative thank you, I actually play in GDAE, but now interested in changing strings from octave higher to unison, just hoping for fuller sound, that drone kinda thing..

[@rogthepirate4593]

Useful video. Both as a little guide on how to do the conversion (I'm used to mandolin, so unison just feels better to me anyway) and as a helpful nudge to help me decide on the instrument itself. My budget isn't that rosy to be honest, but I think investing a little more in a decent instrument instead of grabbing the cheapest one is a good idea.

[@alexmarkham]

Cheers! Glad you found the video useful. I've seen this particular bouzouki pop up on eBay now and again around the £150 mark, so you might be able to get a bargain if you time it right. I tried out some of the cheaper options (Ozark, Blue Moon) and they didn't really do it for me. There's a definite difference in quality with the Hora. The fact it also has a pickup built in makes it serious value for money. If I was looking to spend a bit more, I'd go for an Ashbury (no pickups in those though). I'd love to get a Fylde, but that's not going to happen anytime soon!

[@NiKo-gu6nc]

Great video! Wish I had come by it when I bought mine... I also bought those same strings... and even the amplifyer bridge. The action was impossible, even after 'unbending' the mast with heat and filing down quite a lot the bridge, its still too high and is bending back the neck again... So I'll try filing the bridge a bit more and will search for finer strings. I'll update if I can save the instrument!!

[@m34nb34n]

ha it gets somewhat addictive making older instruments playable again or modding them. Awesome playing. I love unison

[@frankweir9514]

Wonderful video and playing. I have been interested in the Hora instruments but very fearful they would be unplayable and terrible since they are affordable! So helpful to see this video to know what they are all about. Thomann now has a branch here in the U.S. and these also are listed on Ebay. Thomann should throw some store credit your way!! You are selling some instruments for them! Also liked your repair tips which is something I also am interested in but very intimidated by. Seems like most new instruments require the action to be lowered and professional setups can cost almost half the purchase price of the instrument! Difficult for us rank amateurs out there who just want to have some fun and play with friends. Many Thanks!

[@alexmarkham]

Thank you Frank. I hope someone from Thomann reads this! Hah. You're completely right about the amount of setup work required on new instruments. It's certainly true of low and mid-priced stuff. My trouble is that I like to buy lots of guitars and other stringed instruments and put them in different tunings. If you only play in one tuning, then it makes sense to buy the best instrument you can afford. My budget simply won't stretch to high-end gear for everything and I think that goes for most people! With a bit of effort though, you can make almost anything play well.

[@Valou_56]

This video's gonna help me a lot thanks !

[@lindamon8]

In fact Irvine, Lunny and Moynihan all played in Planxty, the latter on the "Cold blow and the rainy night" album.

[@jamesgoddard871]

Thank you . I prefer the unison sound too.

[@patrickcereghetti]

Lovely tone buddy ! you've got a fantastic feeling. Thanks for all those tips .

[@caetanohayes3503]

Really helpfull video! Would you be able to link the tab for the demos you play? That would be great

[@corentin_Z]

I just get one for christmas, that exact same model and it’s fantastic. I also turned into unisson following your steps, and eventhough I couldn’t clearly hear the difference in the video, when you actually do it it’s like a different instrument to hear, like switching from harpsichord to piano. Thank you. And btw what is called the demo song you’re playing ? Because it sounds great.

[@velvetsound]

Great demo. I just picked up the same instrument to mod it in the same way so I can play it the same way on our album. :) Thank you!

[@alexmarkham]

That's great Jason. Glad you got something out of the video. Thanks.

[@garnikhechiceriabrujeria4205]

Hello! I love the videos, I play the mandolin and I started with bouzouki recently but there is not really much information because I am from Mexico and here the instrument is not known, I have searched the chords and many appear and I do not understand, you could make a video or you know what are the main chords that need to know ?, thank you, keep it up! :)

[@alexmarkham]

Thanks for the nice words about my videos. I wish I had the time to put together a video for you, but sadly I'm a bit snowed under with work at the moment and I have a few other videos already in the works. Declan Plummer has some great videos for beginners - kzbin.info/www/bejne/baDIfGWdZt-WgaM I would also suggest that you take a look at the Online Academy of Irish Music - www.oaim.ie. They have some good videos that will help you.

[@garnikhechiceriabrujeria4205]

Don´t worry, I appreciate the gesture and thank you very much for the help, as I say here in Mexico literally there is nothing or nobody shares these taste, also for that reason I like to meet people with the same tastes and to be able to learn even if I do not know much English but I hope to make myself understood Keep it up, your channel looks really good, regards :D

[@herbertaikin9385]

@@garnikhechiceriabrujeria4205 if you tune it gdae the chords are the same as mandolin.

[@PeterLindelauf]

I went the other way and changed my Gold Tone octave mandolin to high/low pairs for the G and D bass strings. No more muddy bass tones. Otherwise, as far as I can tell an 'Irish bouzouki' is just an octave mandolin in Ireland. Both of your demos sound good but to my ears, prefer the jangly tone of the octave pairs. I've also switched to GDAD tuning snice realizing the benefits of the tuning over GDAE. I'll keep a mandolin tuned that way, however.

[@dylanduke1075]

Yeah I’m having this issue with the bridge. It’s kinda crazy

[@captainabc3467]

Not trying to disappoint you but I liked more the octave tuning. However, you play it very nicely. I will order one very soon!

[@BmoreBusker]

How the heck does one adjust the truss??

[@MultiBadboy666]

Would you still be able to put on octave strings on the Bouzouki after making the string slots bigger for the unison strings, or would the bridge slots be too large for the octave strings? I kinda would like to use both and switch between them depending on how I feel. I don't know if I should go through with this. Thanks a lot in advance.

[@RavenMadd9]

thank you brother

[@alexmarkham]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@peterbyrne178]

Yes it sounds much better.. I like your playing by the way

[@ElijahG98]

Good review. Do you know how this compares to thommans cheaper bouzouki's? I'm always torn between save $ and getting something good that will last haha. So if this one is noticeably better I might need to save up a bit more. But luckily its still affordable.

[@pobraposric4927]

sounds better as octave. nice tune and playing anyway

[@tysonmccoy887]

That looked like a set of torch tip cleaners that you used as nut files, I have always wanted a set of nut files but they are out of my budget, but I can get torch cleaners all day from work

[@alexmarkham]

That's them Tyson. Simple, affordable and they get the job done!

[@MrPendell]

I've used torch tip cleaners for nut slot files many times. I have a set of stew mac files now, and those are great for situations where you have to hog out a lot of material, but where you just need to widen a slot a bit or round the bottom to prevent binding, or when you need to adjust the angle of a nut slot, sometimes the tip cleaners work best

[@Gynnemo]

Hehe... how come you have a box of "Annas Pepparkakor" on the floor? :)

[@ziblot1235]

I couldn’t tell the dif. I have always wanted to tune my mandolin to octaves. But I think u know more about Celtic tunes than I do so I guess unison is the way to go. It’s just that the octave sets seem easier to play...not so chunky! Thanx for advice. Good buy? I will order from Virginia.

[@alexmarkham]

Thanks. Yes, it's much more common to use unison for Irish trad. It's been a good investment for a first zouk, but I think I'm about due an upgrade now!

[@danobrien4967]

What the name this tune? And great vid. Im trying to work up the never to buy one. Liked & Subscribed

[@davidz5470]

What an informative video. I went ahead and bought a similar bazouki. Is there any way in heck you could play that riff again a bit slower. I really want to learn it.

[@alexmarkham]

Thanks David. Glad I helped you make a buying decision. I'd love to post a play-through for you, but work is slightly taking over my life at the moment! I've been honing my bouzouki skills over the last few months though and hope to make another video soon.

[@samuelgoad7320]

oddly enough the cheaper standard Irish Bouzouki comes with those same strings you modded yours to have, so if you can deal without the nicer trimmings Hora will ship you a unison factory made

[@FelixCarcone]

Great Phil t-shirt ;) !

[@detectivejonesw]

Where might we learn the song you played?

[@tater9384]

What strings do you use now?

[@ianlaughlin9281]

Hey thanks for the video. After playing this for awhile would you recommend it or would you say it's better to spend the extra cash for a TC or similar starter zouk?

[@alexmarkham]

Thanks Ian. My only real issue was that being a guitarist, I found the scale length difficult to begin with, but it's getting easier with practice. I couldn't really justify spending more money for a starter instrument. I will upgrade at some point, but this will do the job for the next few years.

[@Shroomiedoobie]

Whats the song in the demo

[@Orourkebanjo]

Where does an American go to buy this? What website should I use? Your video was very informative. I appreciate how thorough you are.

[@alexmarkham]

Thank you Sean. I would have suggested buying directly from Thomann before the CITES restrictions came into effect, but that isn't an option now (it has a rosewood fingerboard). It seems you don't have many choices for affordable, factory-made bouzoukis in the US, which is a real shame. I use Hobgoblin in the UK for anything trad-related. I've no idea what the US service is like, but they've always been good with me and I see they have a branch in Minnesota - www.hobgoblin-usa.com. Might be worth giving them a call to see if they can order this particular model for you through one of their suppliers. If not, an Ozark or a Blue Moon bouzouki would be your next best option. I would also keep an eye on the classifieds over at Mandolin Cafe. Some interesting stuff pops up there every so often.

[@Orourkebanjo]

Alex Markham Thanks a lot. I'll keep my eyes peeled. Wonderful link.

[@ShayanGivehchian]

Any major mandolin dealer carries them. I would recommend Elderly in Lansing Michigan. Wonderful people there

[@Niven42]

I ordered mine direct from Hora. When I got the box, I was immediately terrified because it received a lot of rough handling between Romania and here. But after unpacking it, it turned out everything was fine. It was in great shape and sounds wonderful.

[@marikafragen8953]

Direct from hora. They shipped it in a thick wad of bubble-wrap, and it arrived just fine. I did not get an electrified model, and the bridge was not positioned correctly as shipped. This required a little bit of work to correct, but it's not that difficult. I haven't yet modded mine for the unison tuning, but I'm about to. Thanks for the video.

[@carmine-iodice7574]

thomann link pls

[@alexmarkham]

This one - www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_irish_concert_bouzouki_pu.htm. It's the first thing that comes up when you search for "Irish bouzouki" on Thomann.

[@michaelbim-merle4752]

Hello! great video! I intend to get an Irish bouzouki for myself soon so that should be fun, but i have one question, Do you think with the new modifications you would still be able to put the octave strings in as well as the unison? or would there be too much space to put the high g and d back in? I'm wondering because i honestly like both sounds and would consider restringing from time to time!

[@alexmarkham]

Thanks! I'd strongly suggest leaving the nut alone if you want to use the octave strings. Since making this video, I have warmed to the idea of octave strings myself. Eventually, I'm going to buy a second bouzouki. It would be nice to have one for each tuning! P.S. Sorry it's taken me a while to reply. I haven't been on KZbin much recently, as I'm trying to finish recording an album in my spare time. Hoping to get some more bouzouki videos up in the near future though!

[@SoundsOfSarang]

Great review, thanks for that! Can you tell me what do you think about pickup work? Is it hissing when it's loud? any insights about pickup would be helpful before buying - take care Alex ;)

[@alexmarkham]

Thank you. I've only used the pickup a few times through an iRig Pro into iRIg Acoustic on my iPhone and there wasn't any noticeable interference. Haven't had the opportunity to try it out with an amp yet though.

[@padraigodeorain3512]

Struggled with this myself, cant get the second g to tune up past an A, any suggestions

[@padraigodeorain3512]

Sorted, still getting a bit of frer buzz, but this video was brilliant man!

[@alexmarkham]

Ah great, glad to hear you sorted it! Thanks for the compliment. Whereabouts are you getting fret buzz? Lower down, higher up or all over the fingerboard?

[@padraigodeorain3512]

Alex Markham lower down, also still getting that problem in terms of tone slippage, 12th fret a different key, but the strings all tuned in perfectly, any ideas?

[@alexmarkham]

I would try loosening the truss rod. If you can find an allen key small enough to get through that annoying little gap, loosen your strings, insert the allen key, turn it to the left (going only a quarter turn at a time), then retune and see if it makes a difference. Do this a few times until you're happy with it. If the note at the twelfth fret is sharp, try pushing the bridge back towards the tailpiece. If it's flat, bring the bridge nearer to the neck. I also found that angling the bridge so that the treble side is nearer the tailpiece improves the intonation across the strings. Hope that helps!

[@padraigodeorain3512]

Alex Markham legend man! Ill let ya know i get on

[@stefanallan4274]

Sounds much better a much rounder tone

[@patrickfarley8036]

Why if it's called an "IRISH bouzouki" doesn't it come with the appointments that differentiate the Greek set up from the Irish? I mean, in essence what you got was just a flat back Greek, then wasn't it? Not IRISH at all! As for all your efforts mate, I enjoyed the original sound better. There was some clicking on the first version maybe the pick on the wood? IDK. What ever it was got worse and fret buzz was also more noticeable afterwards. I was concerned for your strings break angle on the treble side, but of course it's got a pick up so what is lost in acoustic volume from too low a break angle can be regained in ProTools or which ever! Well, thanks for this anyway and best of luck with the new CD! This has certainly helped my thinking towards what bouzouki to get or not! 🤘

[@trakla]

Are you right mate?

[@TheMinimunk]

I ordered one from thomann to try my hand at teaching myself the bouzouki as a first instrument a few days ago :) however Did you just tune the 2 e-string to d? I really know next to nothing so im not going to attempt restringing untill nessarry much less converting.... maybe at a later point :)

[@alexmarkham]

I did that, but also restrung with a set of unison strings (as shown in the video). It comes from the factory with octaves on the G and D and that gives it a certain sound, which you might like, but it's not ideally suited for Irish trad accompaniment.

[@TheMinimunk]

Alex Markham Yea the idea is i want to go the irish trad route eventually but being a complete novice with No experience What so ever. That might be a few months Down the Road :) but Yea i was actually fearing having to restring the e strings so Thats a load of my heart :D Thanks for the fast reply mark and keep up the good work ☺️

[@alexmarkham]

Midnight Thanks. You're welcome!

[@Null_Vampyrr]

Can you use the same chord shapes with D tuned down to D but with octave strings?

[@alexmarkham]

Yes!

[@barbarasalisbury4023]

ALEX MARKHAM thanks for subscribing,I have a weird channel,My Loving Talking Blues went from 139 to 17 yestereay,today only 6 views.I tuned a Greek Bouzouki A D F# B,G C E A,and A D F C,have you tried tuning a mandolin alto in its own dropped D or D A E B,as on my Johnny Young and ;Johnny Winter posts.I Know your album will do well with all that fine acoustic playing,Your Friend,Chris Young The Late Henry Townson said Johnny Young tuned " like the top four on a guitar" he meant a D alto Mando needs no transposing by a 3rd the first position chords with standard tuned guitar. 6

[@alexmarkham]

Thank you for the kind words. I haven't tried that tuning, but I do want to pick up a tenor mandola soon and I will be experimenting with different tunings until I'm completely happy. Thanks for the tip!

[@deepdiver51]

So!

[@barbarasalisbury4023]

No points double from America again,Alex I'm retired in New Mexico Farm market international tourist,found a three to thirty mile swath to Contribute too! Glad to hear That the home office is losing The Foul Mouth and Confused crowd!I would be a Tory supporter and union ? Wig? BEST TO YOU AND yours! And met a fellow country playing Yamaha Detuned and he have me a note gratuity, hoping for a trifecta in Israel Britab and beyond ! saw Burt Jansh retired too Hope legendary Aronald Dolmesch is alive The Bard Of Hameline?Your friend Chris Young in NEW Mexico!

[@cliffsandifer3877]

rather lucky aspiring bouzouki players: bouzoukis were not real easy to acquire 30 years ago.....thanks to internet companies like Hora and Gold tone are producing them and available on internet.. I have a Joe Foley instrument from 1996. i have only seen 3 in "jams" in America. Long live the bouzouki they sound splendidly with fiddles whistles pipes my opinion

[@ziblot1235]

To-Mann. Germans don’t have the “th” sound like English “the” “those” that’s why they alwYs sound like they are sayings “ze” for the. Another all of them but this is a strange sound for them.

[@drunkenviking]

you have to pronounce it like a Sweede: Kom hit din jävla HOOOOOOOOOORA... :)

[@eyeball226]

Piezo pickups don't use magnets...

[@cheshirebowman4465]

They are not nut files. They are actually welding nozzle cleaners. Some ar..hole is selling them as nut files. Should be banned from selling them.