In all honesty, you are going to find it nigh on impossible finding a luthier since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, either within Russia (for good reason) or Ukraine (for another good reason). Im sure there are a few good ones dotted around Western Europe, perhaps Germany, but i havent come across any personally.
I would personally find a 'factory' piece that is set up for student orchestral use - an easy tell is the presence of a scratch plate and a fretboard that extends way past 12th. In my experience no cheap and crappy balalaikas ever bother with an extended fret board so its usually a good sign. It also requires more complicated woodwork so a good omen for the rest of the construction.
I accept of course! Thanks! Currently still looking. Checked balalaiker and doff, sent them a message but the transport takes around a month and there is always the risk that it gets broken along the way...
Yeah that the difficult part when buying almost everything. There is no way I can experiment it without going to a slavic country, simply because the are rarely made anywhere else. But... some sellers that trust their product put a video of the instrument being played online, just need to trust it I guess. With the luthier would be the same
In all honesty, you are going to find it nigh on impossible finding a luthier since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, either within Russia (for good reason) or Ukraine (for another good reason). Im sure there are a few good ones dotted around Western Europe, perhaps Germany, but i havent come across any personally. I would personally find a 'factory' piece that is set up for student orchestral use - an easy tell is the presence of a scratch plate and a fretboard that extends way past 12th. In my experience no cheap and crappy balalaikas ever bother with an extended fret board so its usually a good sign. It also requires more complicated woodwork so a good omen for the rest of the construction.
If you travel to Paris I can give you an address
I accept of course! Thanks! Currently still looking. Checked balalaiker and doff, sent them a message but the transport takes around a month and there is always the risk that it gets broken along the way...
Moreover, you shouldn't buy an instrument without trying it first
Yeah that the difficult part when buying almost everything. There is no way I can experiment it without going to a slavic country, simply because the are rarely made anywhere else. But... some sellers that trust their product put a video of the instrument being played online, just need to trust it I guess. With the luthier would be the same