I am starting the process of looking into getting an Octave Mandolin or Irish Bouzouki (maybe Cittern, but that 10 strings would be getting a little to much). This will probably be a year if not longer process, as I just got a new mandolin, and it will take me at least that long to really get any extra funds together and to convince my wife that I need yet another instrument.
Are there any resources out there (videos) comparing the different types and styles? I have gone through most of the U.S. makers on the Bouzouki GDAE website (
http://gdaebouzouki.blogspot.com/p/b...nd-octave.html) and have started reading the differences between flat and carved tops, but with so many variations (shape, tuning, scale length, sound board wood choice, top construction, sound holes, etc) and no real landmark sound (like a gibson F5 in the mando world), I am really at a loss of where to even begin. More importantly, as I am in New Orleans, there are not a plethora, if any, bouzouki or mandolin players around.
I play at sessions with a celtic band with 6 - 7 violin players, so am looking for something to help provide a driving accompaniment, or broken chords and counter melody / chords with moving bass lines on slower pieces like what is done in with the octave / bouzouki in Planxty and Dervish.
At this point price is not a determining factor, I really am just trying to start diminishing the options, so I can try and identify ways to try out these instruments or begin calling builders to get additional information about their instruments.
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