Unboxing a Hora Bouzouki

Рет қаралды 14,661

Күн бұрын

Today I'm unboxing a Hora bouzouki that just arrived from Romania! I don't know much about bouzoukis, but based on my knowledge of guitars this one seems well made and solidly constructed!
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Пікірлер: 80

@pippogriffthegreat7003 2 ай бұрын

This was super helpful! I've been thinking about this for years, and this may have just made my decision for me.

@viacheslavlezin2916 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for unboxing and review!

@guitargeorge5150 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful video, thank you this video helped me make my mind up on which one to buy ☺️

@MusicalMollyKhan 2 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad it helped 😊

@robertwhite711 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your review Molly. Like you, I bought a Hora Irish Bouzouki from eBay, but it was around 15 years ago. Mine came tuned GDAE with octave tuning. Since then, I have tried unison tuning which also sounds good, but I prefer octave. I have also switched over to GDAD tuning as I like that sound more. Hope you enjoy playing yours.

@MusicalMollyKhan 2 жыл бұрын

It is so much fun! Good to hear it's going strong after 15 years. Thank you 😊

@JeanClaudePeeters 4 жыл бұрын

these are very well made, I have the mandolin and it is great.

@MusicalMollyKhan 4 жыл бұрын

I agree, great instruments!

@generalstoaschicken 4 ай бұрын

Objectively, they're not well made. I do think that for the price it's the best option for a lot of people though. The best advice when you're looking to buy any instrument is get the best instrument you can afford. These are the very base level, there's nothing cheaper than a hora. Nothing wrong with that if that's what you can afford I just want to play the instrument But I would recommend looking at Trinity College or Ashbury or ideally, look at some hand built instruments. These are notorious for coming in an unplayable condition and I think that can really turn a lot of people off right away, which is a shame. Again, no shade if you love yours, But I would suggest looking at something a little better quality if you can

@strangeland4562 2 жыл бұрын

Nice sound.. Beautiful . positive. Personality added. God bless. Hope alls happy.

@KeeganLarwin 4 жыл бұрын

Does each pair of strings come in the same gauge so you can tune it in unison? I saw another video from a few years ago where the gauges in each pair were different for octave tuning. Thanks for the video!

@MusicalMollyKhan 4 жыл бұрын

I just checked, and the strings in each course are the same gauge! Mine came tuned in unison, which I really like the sound of, so I'm keeping it for now :)

@KeeganLarwin 4 жыл бұрын

@@MusicalMollyKhan thank you so much Molly!

@davidhawkins9206 4 жыл бұрын

Picking one of these up later on today.. looking forward to getting started with it, it's branded Ozark but I'm pretty sure it's from the same Romanian makers

@MusicalMollyKhan 4 жыл бұрын

I hope you love it!

@davidhawkins9206 4 жыл бұрын

@@MusicalMollyKhan I do! I had to do a bit of setting up on it but I love the instrument itself.. very intuitive to get around on and it sounds great. I can see it sticking around!

@ItsJustaMeNow 2 жыл бұрын

What's the string action like from the factory? I'm looking at buying their "concert" model, just because it's got that nice rosette design.

@MusicalMollyKhan 2 жыл бұрын

It's not too high, but I did file the nut a bit to make it more comfortable for myself 😊

@tyeggstaff7987 3 жыл бұрын

I would say the way it's strung would be mandochello. I have a Hora I bought on ebay over 15 years ago. I really like it. It is my go to. I don't have a good case for it. It came with a basically useless gig bag. I wrap it in a blanket when transporting. Mines tuned with octave strings on the lower two bouts. I also had to lower the bridge on mine.

@MusicalMollyKhan 3 жыл бұрын

That's fair, I actually don't know much about the difference between Bouzouki and mandocello as they seem quite similar.

@brucepurcell-theactor7647 2 жыл бұрын

I wishbu had watched this before I bought my Blue Moon bouzouki for about $150 more than the Hora. It looks as good as the Blue Moon. I had read/seen disparaging reviews of the Hora, but it looks and sounds good. I had to have my fret bars files dow and a buzz in the springs dealt with.

@mandolin8297 3 жыл бұрын

Hora makes VERY AFFORDABLE but absolutely WONDERFULLY SOUNDING bouzouki / octave mandolins! Mine did arrive a bit damaged but due to US customs. 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.

@MusicalMollyKhan 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I love my Hora Bouzouki! It's held up super well and sound great 😊

@Sombre____ Жыл бұрын

At this price, i prefer taking a ashbury.

@ananthavenkatanarasimhacha9046 9 ай бұрын

I need a Thoman Portugess Mandolin. Please let me know how to order for it and the website to which ordered. Excellent finishing. The sound of it also be so melidious.

@RockStarOscarStern634 3 жыл бұрын

I'd replace that tailpiece with a very special version of this tailpiece that has holes for the strings & even hooks.

@RockStarOscarStern634 3 жыл бұрын

That song was Chicken Fried by Zack Brown.

@cliffsandifer3877 4 ай бұрын

Internet bouzouki s are much easier to obtain now than when i got mine from Ireland builder J. Foley in 1997. word of advice: tune the bouzouki a step down from standard A440: you will not break the high e string trying reach standard pitch so easily, ( I broke my share of them) I TRY to use string gauges .012, 018 .016, .032 and .018, .045. using .016 on E can break. if you live in dry climate get a hole humidifier so that the top won"t crack. I have made some repairs on mine at the tail piece bridge and the headstock. my advice is Preventive in nature. the scale of mine is 25 1/2 I am noticing you have had it 3 years. hope it is still behaving okay. i sometimes use GDAD or GDAE and I octave the bottom strings. Its a fun thing to play and its a trick to go through airport security with it. they think its a weapon I stop now.. happy" charunnnnnnnging"

@RockStarOscarStern634 3 жыл бұрын

Molly the Bouzouki aka Octave Mandolin is actually tuned like a Fiddle. The Zero fret lowers the action which makes it easier to fret.

@JeanClaudePeeters 3 жыл бұрын

The bouzouki / octave mandolin is not tuned like a fiddle, but an octave lower. Most bouzouki players tune to GDAD instead of GDAE. The zero fret does NOT lower the action, but indeed does make playing the first frets easier. It does however not affect the action, which is the string height above the frets. I don't see how a fret could alter the string height above the twelfth fret...

@RockStarOscarStern634 3 жыл бұрын

@@JeanClaudePeeters A Solid Body Electric version has an even lower action so it's much easier to play, & also the strings are much lighter gauge.

@generalstoaschicken 4 ай бұрын

No, the bouzouki especially It's not tuned like a fiddle. There are various tunings but by far the most common is GDAD and an octave lower than the fiddle

@RockStarOscarStern634 4 ай бұрын

@@generalstoaschicken Actually it's the same tuning as a Fiddle but an Octave Lower. The zero fret helps with easier action.

@generalstoaschicken 4 ай бұрын

@@RockStarOscarStern634 lol no. The vast majority of Irish bouzuouki players don't tune it like that 😂😂

@ambu6478 4 ай бұрын

Would you mind if I ask you if that Bouzouki has a truss rod? I'm thinking of ordering one just like yours. Thanks!

@MitchMb14 3 жыл бұрын

I have the same instrument. I just put better Rubner tuners on it. I was worried about the box, too. They're putting less banjo-like bridges on the newer ones.

@MusicalMollyKhan 3 жыл бұрын

Oh interesting! I'd like to experiment with the new bridges 😊

@Srtw163 4 ай бұрын

Where do i get this traditional instrument?.plz suggest

@celtikk1 Жыл бұрын

Hás It thrusrod ?

@mattparksmusic 2 жыл бұрын

What strings do you buy for it?

@detankiters2486 Жыл бұрын

Where did you buy it from?! Please send the site where you bought it

@kavikv.d.hexenholtz3474 3 жыл бұрын

Hello, I'm thinking or getting one of these and was hoping you may be able to tell me how much your entire shipping costs were (assuming you're in the US)? Did you have any additional fees that you had to pay (customs, etc.)?? How long did it take to come in after you ordered it?? Thanks!

@MusicalMollyKhan 3 жыл бұрын

This was a little while ago, so these are my best guesses, haha! I believe I paid about $160 and an additional $60 in shipping. There were no hidden customs fees or additional costs at all. I can't remember the exact shipping time, but I purchased it near the beginning of April and made this video near the end, so I would estimate about 3-4 weeks to receive it :) I hope that's helpful!

@kavikv.d.hexenholtz3474 3 жыл бұрын

@@MusicalMollyKhan Awesome. Thanks very much for the quick response! Did you order directly from Hora, or was it via another company (they're also sold by "Thomann" out of Germany which is the site I found them on). How did you find the string action; I've heard it can be kind of high on these. Thanks again.

@MusicalMollyKhan 3 жыл бұрын

@@kavikv.d.hexenholtz3474 I actually purchased mine on ebay from a seller "digitalmediashop85". Everything went well for me but they do have a couple of negative reviews. Thomann is a good and trustworthy company though, if you want to go through them. Personally, I find the action quite comfortable. Once you get above the 6th fret it becomes a bit high, but I have mostly been working with chords near the nut so it hasn't bothered me enough to try and fix it!

@kavikv.d.hexenholtz3474 3 жыл бұрын

@@MusicalMollyKhan Thanks - very helpful!

@tyeggstaff7987 3 жыл бұрын

Mine came from a local dealer. USA anyway. No duty costs. I recomend having a good luthier set it up when you get it. I do enough setups I did mine myself. Everyone who sees and hears it falls in love.

@ananthavenkatanarasimhacha9046 9 ай бұрын

Madam, Namaste🙏 What is the price of this Bazouki. It is so beautiful.

@JeanClaudePeeters 4 жыл бұрын

sounds great and you are very cute!

@ananthavenkatanarasimhacha9046 9 ай бұрын

Is it electrified or ordinary?

@paty1871 4 жыл бұрын

what model is it?

@MusicalMollyKhan 4 жыл бұрын

I purchased mine from eBay and there was no listed model number, but I got the one without electronics.

@RockStarOscarStern634 3 жыл бұрын

@@MusicalMollyKhan You can add electronics & even a Pickup to it cause it'll make it easier to record.

@morho9422 2 жыл бұрын

after she opened the first box i was asking myself if she was sure the thing came from romania and not russia. nice instrument, adequately priced. made by skilful cheap labour in romania and to be available to the people who are not rich.

@RockStarOscarStern634 4 жыл бұрын

It's tuned like a Fiddle

@bealmor1963 3 жыл бұрын

Most people tune them GDAD for accompaniment, GDAE for melody.

@RockStarOscarStern634 3 жыл бұрын

@@bealmor1963 Violin players would use GDAE tuning so they can play the same music on an Octave Mandolin.

@bealmor1963 3 жыл бұрын

@@RockStarOscarStern634 Some do but i've rarely seen fiddle tuning used for backing on a Bouzouki. It loses the drone which is one of the joys of a Bouzouki imho.

@RockStarOscarStern634 3 жыл бұрын

@@bealmor1963 Ok so it needs that Drone. But Violin players would have fun with this instrument.

@Kamamura2 10 ай бұрын

... but why didn't you play anything?

@c.a.t.732 3 жыл бұрын

"Tuners like a classical guitar, which is kind of fun". I would say not so much "fun" as tortuous in terms of string changing.

@MusicalMollyKhan 3 жыл бұрын

Haha, fair enough!

@c.a.t.732 3 жыл бұрын

@@MusicalMollyKhan I hope you didn't think I was criticizing you. I love the way those open-headstock style tuners look, and once had a Takamine Bruno-copy guitar like that. But the first time I went to change the strings, I realized that looks aren't everything! My own octave mandolin has regular guitar type tuners, for which I am grateful.

@MusicalMollyKhan 3 жыл бұрын

@@c.a.t.732 oh no not at all! I do like the look better as well, and honestly after changing harp strings they seem like a breeze 😅