No comments about American Hammered Dulcimer, Case, Stand and Book.

1 comments about Balalaika w/ Free Hard Case, Tuning Chart & CD.

1. I recommend against purchasing this instrument. The back of the sound-box in a balalaika is roughly semi-oval. The depth increases gradually from zero at the corners to some 5.1" (13cm) at the center. The bottom piece is also angled inward. In contrast, the back of this instrument, which you only partially see in the picture, is trapezoidal, almost rectangular. The depth is already 3.1" (8cm) 0.4" (1cm) away from the corners and rises only slightly to 3.8" (9.7cm) at the center. The bottom piece is not angled. Putting aside any acoustic differences, this shape also affects the way the instrument sits on one's lap. When the shallow corner of a balalaika is placed between the legs and the right elbow holds the top corner, the center of the back rests on the stomach, and the front surface is almost vertical. With this instrument, the almost uniform depth means that the corner between the legs is 3" away from the body and the front surface is highly sloped outward from top to bottom.
   The neck in most balalaikas is 0.6" (1.5cm) thick (thickness to the back, not width). It is 1" (2.6cm) thick in this instrument. Playing as if the front fingers and the thumb were each 0.4" shorter affects one's dexterity and the angle the fingers make with the fret-board. This could be a serious problem for people with smaller hands. Since both the front fingers and the thumb are used in playing the balalaika, one cannot make up the difference by rotating one's hand around the neck. Cutting off 0.4" from the back of the neck is no solution. The neck is hollow and if thinned, will bend forward under the pull of the strings.
   The tuners in a balalaika have different spacings from the knobs to the posts. This is how the head of a balalaika is aligned with the neck. In this instrument, the tuners are more similar to a guitar's, with equal distance from the knobs to the posts. This may be why the head in this instrument is angled with respect to the neck.
   I threw away this instrument and searched around for another one. I found Imperskaya Music, a very good source of balalaikas in the US, with a selection of instruments at different price points. I purchased one from Imperskaya and I'm very happy with it.

No comments about EMS Mountain Dulcimer 5 String Knotwork, Case & PLAY BOOK FREE.

No comments about Keyboard Dulcimer / Bulbul Tarang.

No comments about Dulcimer Stand.

No comments about 13/12 Meadowlark Hammered Dulcimer.

No comments about Keyboard Dulcimer 36 Inch.

No comments about Small Thumb Piano - Kalimba.

No comments about Dulcimer Banjo.

1 comments about MONTANA Back Packer Travel Guitar.

1. This guitar has a surprisingly pleasant (if muted) sound, considering how small and inexpensive it is. It's quite cute -- it looks like a lute -- and it's the perfect size and weight for travel. The downside is that it's very fragile. It split apart the first time I dropped it, and wood glue wasn't able to seal it back together. I'm considering buying another one, but if I do, I won't use it for rugged traveling.