Kai tönjes bouzouki

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-17-2008, 3:45pm

I'd like to show my Tönjes Bouzouki, made by Kai Tönjes in Kent in England. It's a fabulous sounding instrument.

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-17-2008, 3:46pm

Back

**John Flynn** · Jun-17-2008, 3:46pm

Wow! It's a fabulous looking instrument also!

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-17-2008, 3:47pm

Head

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-17-2008, 3:49pm

Oh, thanks Johnny. You're fast.

Back of the neck:

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-17-2008, 3:51pm

Detail back

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-17-2008, 3:54pm

Detail top

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-17-2008, 4:01pm

Here you can see the figure of the spruce a bit better. In reality it isn't that yellow, it's more natural. Kai has his own design of bridge and tailpiece and of sound holes of course.

**Avi Ziv** · Jun-17-2008, 4:15pm

Very interesting Michael! Any sound samples? What's the scale?

Thanks for sharing

Avi

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-17-2008, 4:40pm

The scale is 64cm. I have no sound samples in the moment. I'll try to make some later.

**Steve L** · Jun-17-2008, 5:37pm

Absolute stunner! Very interesting bridge design.

**man dough nollij** · Jun-17-2008, 5:54pm

The tailpiece is smiling!

**Bertram Henze** · Jun-18-2008, 2:26am

The bridge reminds me of Red Henry's bridges, standing on two single feet. It should make the instrument quite loud (does it?).

Bertram

**Bob Wiegers** · Jun-18-2008, 7:33am

wow that's awesome.

**F5GRun** · Jun-18-2008, 7:39am

Awesome...drool

**Bertram Henze** · Jun-18-2008, 8:05am

Originally Posted by (man dough nollij @ June 18 2008, 00:54)

The tailpiece is smiling!

...with metal teeth!

**JEStanek** · Jun-18-2008, 8:08am

Yowsa! That is a beautiful instrument. Even the braces look sculpted to follow a design aesthetic in addition to function! I love the wood work and all around the heel too.

Jamie

**Bertram Henze** · Jun-18-2008, 8:27am

How is that tailpiece attached to the body? Is there a piece of chord like with violin family instruments?

And is it just wood holding the ball ends, or is there a metal structure underneath?

Edit: I just found his website where it says "wood and brass", so my question is answered, I suppose.

Bertram

**steve V. johnson** · Jun-19-2008, 1:06am

Fantastic! Congratulations! That is really stunning.

I'll probably spend a lot of time meditating on the bridge. I love the work at he back of the heel, gorgeous.
I like all of it, really. Woo.

My big question is, please, how is the luthier's name pronounced?

Thanks, and again, congratulations!

stv

**Bertram Henze** · Jun-19-2008, 1:24am

Originally Posted by (sliabhstv @ June 19 2008, 08:06)

My big question is, please, how is the luthier's name pronounced?

Seems to be a German (North German I guess) name. The best approximation for English speakers would be "Ky Toeyn-yes".

The sound of "ö" is produced by saying "o" and moving the tongue upward.
Edit: I should add that the tounge must touch the upper teeth on both sides to produce that vowel.

Bertram

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-19-2008, 5:33am

Thanks for your comments,

I was very interested in how you'd like the design, because I could imagine that the sound hole for example is not everybodys cup of tea. I took some time for me to get used to it, but now I like it really well. I think it fits his whole design very well. I have to add that I'm the second owner of the instrument, but I know it from the start because it was built for a friend of mine.
Jamie is right, even when you look inside the bracing is mirroring the lines from outside.

You're also right Bertram. The tailpiece is made of brass with wood cover and its held in place by a endpin.
And yes, I think she's quite loud. I think the angle of the neck and the high bridge is leading to a high string pressure on the top and therefore a powerfull tone. It has very good sustain too.

Kai is indeed a northern German who lives in England. Here's his site: Kai Tönjes
Bertram has described the pronunciation of Kais name very well.

**Bertram Henze** · Jun-19-2008, 6:43am

Originally Posted by (aldimandola @ June 19 2008, 12:33)

I think the angle of the neck and the high bridge is leading to a high string pressure on the top and therefore a powerfull tone.

Yes, that seems to be another feature borrowed from the violin family (and from archtop mandolins). Of course, the top must be able to stand that pressure - I guess that's why the braces (visible through the hole in the 6th pic) are looking so massive.

Bertram

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-19-2008, 7:43am

You're right, the cross braces are very high. But overall it's a lightly built instrument. With these braces it looks heavier than it is. Kai likes to achieve a high string pressure on his instruments.

**Michael Wolf** · Jun-22-2008, 4:12am

Here are a few additional shots, since we talked about the bracing and the tailpiece construction of the Tönjes. Maybe you'd like to take a look inside.