Balalaika info

[menhir]

I've wanted to get a balalaika for decades. I've searched and researched, often fruitlessly because the info is scant. Reviews often run along the lines of "I got this for my grandson and he loves it" or "this is the first instrument I ever owned and it looks nice to me."

I'm looking for something above tourist grade/wallhangers (ugh!) but I'm far from ready to invest in an very expensive professional instrument...Something that plays and sounds well that I can grow with.

Some comments I've read from players led me to this, the one I'm zeroing in so far...
https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann...819e1890edc7dd

Any advice would be welcome.

[Steve DeRosa]

TMK there are still remnants of the old East European community in Pittsburgh, so you might want to start by inquiring there among local ethnic merchants (not necessarily music dealers, BTW); FWIW it worked for me - about 25 years ago a local Middle Eastern grocery store owner was able to guide me to a Turkish merchant who carried a line of decent-quality authentic instruments (which he imported directly), where my wife picked up a darbuka and a muzhar to add to her world-percussion collection. There's also Lark in the Morning (http://larkinam.com/Catalog.html) but IME they tend to be kinda pricey, and it's nowhere near the fun of sussing out some of this stuff yourself...

[menhir]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

TMK there are still remnants of the old East European community in Pittsburgh, so you might want to start by inquiring there among local ethnic merchants (not necessarily music dealers,

Good point. I had tried in years past with no good result, but this was before an online presence for these things was well established. I never even thought of thinking outside the music dealer box. I'll check that out, too.

I'm casting out a few lines.

Thanks.

[Tony Burns]

unfortunately most of those cheap russian models are junk.
I bought a second hand one back in the 1980's for like 30 bucks -
basically its a pretty wall hanger -sorry its buried cant get at it for pictures-
But ive seen ones just like it on EBAY -

[frankmcr]

Have you tried asking the Balalaika and Domra Association of America?

http://www.bdaa.com/

[menhir]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

Have you tried asking the Balalaika and Domra Association of America?

http://www.bdaa.com/

No balalaikas for sale there right now, but they've been on my watchlist in case something interesting shows up.
I'll email them at some point, If for no other reason than advice.

Thanks.

[frankmcr]

No problem. I figured if anybody would know where to get a quality balalaika they would.

It's an interesting instrument but I just don't have time to get into it myself.

[NotALuth]

Might this be of interest?

https://www.hobgoblin-usa.com/local/...a-prima-model/