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FREE: Russian Balalaika

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Description

The listing, Russian Balalaika has ended.

I would guess this instrument is about 35-40 years old. Face is cracked, but still has good tone. Bridge is not original (duh!) but I have balanced it, so that it plays correctly, and actually sounds very good.

I will carefully pack this for shipment, I anticipate shipping weight to be 3.5 lbs. Instrument is 27" by 14" and 4.5" deep. Message me if you need more pictures.

Questions & Comments

Is it possible to upload a video to hear the tone? The photo doesn't comfort me lol

Apr 4th, 2014 at 10:16:23 AM PDT by

looks like everyone wants this. I'll get to it later today.....

Apr 4th, 2014 at 12:01:46 PM PDT by

Welcome to Listia Great Item it will do good

Apr 7th, 2014 at 10:52:19 AM PDT by

sure looks that way!

Apr 7th, 2014 at 11:12:50 AM PDT by

I made myself a rule when I started on here, never buy points, only earn them.

Apr 5th, 2014 at 1:29:49 PM PDT by

Probably a good rule, since the beauty of this site is the 'FREE' angle. I apologize for charging for shipping, but this is going to take time and energy to pack safely.

Apr 5th, 2014 at 2:53:43 PM PDT by

Great! Thank you! It has a very nice sound. If I have enough credits I'll bid on the day it ends. = )

Apr 5th, 2014 at 1:12:55 PM PDT by

Oh, I know I was outbid. I will be bidding again closer to the end :o)

Apr 4th, 2014 at 7:54:24 PM PDT by

Thanks, Lynley!!!!!

Apr 7th, 2014 at 1:22:41 PM PDT by

You have a winner with this auction. I hope I get it! Thanks for listing!

Apr 4th, 2014 at 7:22:57 PM PDT by

look again....seems like there's a few folks hungry for a Russian instrument. I'm surprised!!!!

Apr 4th, 2014 at 7:47:27 PM PDT by

I'll take the damn thing either way. Love to play it and fix it up

Apr 4th, 2014 at 6:37:34 PM PDT by

Thanks, Dave! That's the spirit!

Apr 4th, 2014 at 7:10:38 PM PDT by

Very interesting. How is this tuned? Can you post a youtube video of yourself playing it, so we can get a sample of the sound it makes?

Apr 4th, 2014 at 9:47:50 AM PDT by

posted a snippet. Obviously, not my best work, but heyu, what do you expect before my first cup of coffee?

Apr 5th, 2014 at 8:34:05 AM PDT by

hello 2 you... nice instrument does that fall 4 a guitar like instrument... I play madolian and ukula..... watchn and hope I win this... this is a unusal lookn never seen 1 like this before it looks so cool

Apr 4th, 2014 at 4:42:04 AM PDT by

Google the instrument - you'll see it's quite typical of the Romanian/Russian Balalaika. Most youtubes of the playing are pretty lousy, tho.

Apr 4th, 2014 at 11:59:07 AM PDT by

Dang, I want this, but have almost all of my points committed elsewhere. Big guns is running low. Hmm, well maybe.

Apr 4th, 2014 at 4:25:45 AM PDT by

you can always buy some points...just sayin' :-)

Apr 5th, 2014 at 8:40:14 AM PDT by

Great auction!

Apr 2nd, 2014 at 5:35:23 AM PDT by

Thanks! If you play any stringed instrument, you should bid. Very easy to play, and hardly a challenge to master a 3 stringed instrument.

Apr 2nd, 2014 at 4:39:33 PM PDT by

Ya you can play it in a lazyboy and still be comfortable .. cool

Apr 2nd, 2014 at 12:40:51 AM PDT by

is there any other way to play?

Apr 5th, 2014 at 8:40:43 AM PDT by

Can you post a pick of you holding it ? Seems it would be awkward to hold and play

Apr 1st, 2014 at 4:35:30 PM PDT by

Hi, just posted a pic of me playing it.

Apr 1st, 2014 at 6:25:58 PM PDT by

Faned and bidding .. please fan back.. a few more pictures please .. looks like a fun ax ..

Mar 31st, 2014 at 7:26:08 PM PDT by

yeah, it's unusual - tuned to a drone E chord, you can do all kinds of 'ethnic' scales and runs. As a newb around here, I couldn't start the bid at anything but zero. It is what it is. Bid often and high. I'll post a few more in a bit.

Apr 1st, 2014 at 1:03:30 PM PDT by

Do you take paypal for shipping? tracking included?

Apr 4th, 2014 at 9:53:10 AM PDT by

Yes. Paypal is the only form of payment I accept, unless you are local, then I'll accept livestock or venison.

Apr 5th, 2014 at 8:39:10 AM PDT by

Yes, I do play it. However, I prefer mandolin, mandola and guitar.

Mar 31st, 2014 at 3:19:17 PM PDT by

Can you post a close up image of the crack? Just curious how bad it is and if it is something that will continue to worsen or if it can be fixed?

Apr 3rd, 2014 at 10:39:00 PM PDT by

Yes, it could be repaired. My brother in law is a luthier, and has offerred to do this, but shipping it across country (and the fact it's just an item in my collection) hasn't been high on my priorities. I have had it for a number of years, it doesn't appear to have changed. Honestly, a stripe of super glue in the crach and some applied pressure for 24 hours would fix it fine. We're not talking Stradavarius quality instrument here, this is certainly a local village maker - no branding or maker mark or insignia anywhere.

Apr 4th, 2014 at 12:08:45 PM PDT by

Are strings metal or nylon?

Apr 5th, 2014 at 8:30:23 AM PDT by

metal. You can adapt guitar strings, mandolin or uke strings if you like. I used a .23, .14. and .10 light gauge guitar strings.

Apr 5th, 2014 at 8:32:36 AM PDT by

Just posted two videos on youtube, link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkYt8i82clE this should help you in your decision to use all your points to pick this little jewel up.

Apr 5th, 2014 at 8:52:53 AM PDT by

Hello ..

Apr 1st, 2014 at 4:42:03 AM PDT by

Hi.

Apr 1st, 2014 at 1:41:39 PM PDT by

That's a very reasonable shipping charge. You'll most likely wind up being out of pocket for part of it, depending on where it goes, and how much bubble wrap and what not you use. I found a whole commercial size roll of the shipping foam at a yard sale. I bought it. I'm in good supply for a while. I recommend a triangular box for this, and make some cardboard tubes to fill in the gaps around the neck. I'd put the neck part, after some bubble wrap or something, in a cardboard tube of it's own, then one box for everything. One way I like to ship guitars is take a flat piece of cardboard, wrap the thing in bubble wrap or shipping foam, then tape the flat side down to that piece of cardboard. Fold or trim the flat piece to fit inside the larger box. Once it's in the box, you not only want it padded well, but you don't want it moving around inside the box.

Apr 5th, 2014 at 3:01:55 PM PDT by

Oh cheap foam cups make neat packing pieces.

Apr 5th, 2014 at 3:02:28 PM PDT by

Do you have any other instruments?

Apr 6th, 2014 at 3:51:05 PM PDT by

Many. No other stringed instruments will end up on Listia, they are mostly private reserve instruments, and a few one-of-a-kind treasures. Nothing for sale under $5000.

Apr 6th, 2014 at 3:54:51 PM PDT by

Russian Balalaika is in the Music & Instruments | Instruments & Accessories category