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Nyberg / Irish Bouzouki / Carved-top / Stringed Instrument

Instrument Description:

This model comes in various wood combinations. Pricing starts at $2950 for a carved-top edition with cedar top and Mahogany body. At this price there is a choice of a long scale zouk or short scale at 24".

Some basic details:

  • 25.25"/64cm or 24"/61cm scale length
  • 16 fret neck
  • body : 16.7"L / 15.4"W / 4.1"D
  • 36 mm neck width at nut
  • string gauges: .012, .028w, .030, .045
  • tunings : GDAD, ADAD, GDAE
  • Custom Nyberg tailpiece for ball
     

From the Nyberg Instruments Website:
The aspect of the carved-top provides a unique sound character that makes it a favourite for melody picking and subtle chording.The difference in this model compared to the flat-top is the warm, tight twang. Professional players like Andy Irvine or Ciaran Curran of Altan use carved-top Irish bouzoukis.

This design is somewhat of a hybrid in itself as I use a flat but domed back, and for a couple of reasons. It brings out better projection and volume compared to carved backs. It also helps keep the instrument more affordable in terms of hardwood material usage. I have made my own small handplane and scrapers to carve the contours of the top to achieve the correct specifications in tone and strength.

You can choose a topwood of sitka spruce, red cedar or Engleman spruce. I have found these choices to be commendable for my carved-top bouzouki designs. Cedar adds extra warmth and punch to the tight twang. Sitka spreads out more tonal balance in the high registers and Engelman falls about somewhere in between. The latter\\\\\\\'s higher cellular resin content forms a deep richness in tone but slightly more balanced than cedar.

There is adequate bracing under the soundboard. Most of the resistance is accomodated in the actual curvature of the top. An efficient neck angle helps establish the necessary down pressure to initiate vibrational transference.

 The custom design tailpiece excepts ball-end strings and is outfitted underneath with a leather string dampener to limit sympathetic resonances below the bridge.
  I can make reccomendations to outfit your bouzouki with the proper pick-up and pre-amp systems.

I have many satisfied customers around Europe and especially amongst the celtic music community of Spain. Over 20 years experience in Luthiery.
 Taking orders for fall 2010.
 

 
Instrument sold

Nyberg Instruments, Canada  

Nyberg Instruments
View dealer page
Contact name:
Lawrence
Brands:
Nyberg Instruments
Languages:
English
Specialties:
Handmade Irish Bouzoukis, Mandolin family, gypsy guitars, steel-string guitars
Opening hours:
9am - 9pm

I became interested in folk music in my late teens relating to my interests in alternative music. I studied traditional stringed instrument construction in New Westminster, B.C., and completed my first instrument, a classical guitar, in 1989 at the age of 19. My instructor was Michael Dunn, who builds mainly in the traditional Spanish system that he had in turn studied as an apprentice in Spain in the 1960's. Under his tutelage I studied for over two years and built ten instruments including resophonic guitars, a couple of Maccaferris and my first Irish Bouzouki. Concluding my training I moved on to work with Larrivee guitars for an additional two years. Here I honed my tool skills and production techniques. Indeed this was the other side of the coin compared to Dunn's style of building. Each has it's own merits. In combining these two schools I came upon my conception of lutherie that melded them both into one.

After leaving Larrivee I set up as an independent luthier and have been surviving as such for over six years in Vancouver, B.C. In 1997 I moved to Hornby Island, still on the west coast, and a beautiful place to live. Much of my time has been spent in designing bouzoukis and guitars.

Music is the mode of inspiration for me. Each July I volunteer my experience at the Vancouver Folk Festival as on-site instrument repairperson. The festival has been an immense influence on my perceptions of world music and expression. Some of my building projects have arisen from the impression of those weekends spent in musical paradise. I am also busy playing music with some friends on the island here in a world beat band called Nomad and also a pop-acoustic trio Sensus.
               
I live on St.John's Point road near Whaling Station Bay on Hornby Island, British Columbia with my wife Michelle, son Finnley and new addition Lily. Adding to the spectrum are 2 crazy dogs and sometimes a Bernese mountain dog named Cowboy.




TO ORDER AN INSTRUMENT:

Contact me for the current lead time. This can be between 1-6 months usually.

All commissions require a minimum 1/3 full price deposit, which is non-refundable. If 1/2 down or full payment is more appropriate, that is fine, the 1/3 deposit still stands as non-refundable. Once the project is underway a next payment is requested. Full price including shipping must be received before your instrument is sent out.
Alternately, after receiving the down payment you can also try monthly payments or whatever number of payments works for you.

FORMS OF PAYMENT:
PAYMENT MADE OUT TO LAWRENCE NYBERG

    * money order
    * personal cheque
    * electronic funds transfer
    * paypal, please add on appropriate percentage for user fees at my end
    * Barter on occasion

SHIPPING :

Unless a commission is personally picked up by my customer I ship in a double corrugated container, with the instrument in it's case, and surrounded by packing peanuts. All shipments are insured and shipped to your door.
 I use UPS for North America and DHL for Europe as my default shipping agents unless specified. The shipping costs are above the commission cost and vary in price depending on location. I use a subsidiary agent that ships in bulk through DHL which enables me to charge less than half of what DHL formally charges for shipments to Europe.

BROKERAGE :

For shipping to the U.S., a brokerage fee is usually added onto the shipping costs. You would be asked to pay this upon receiving the package, it's usually around $30-$35 U.S. This fee is unavoidable. Although I do ship duty-free under NAFTA, a brokerage fee is applied to any import to the USA which is valued at over $500.

For international, I can try my best to help you avoid additional costs added to your importation.

WARRANTY :

I warranty all my instruments for the lifetime of the original purchaser. This plan includes any defect in workmanship and doesn't include misuse.

Please contact me by email to discuss your commission. Or call me on my North American toll-free number 1-888-335-0487 or 250-335-0487.

Looking forward to talking with you about building you a spectacular instrument!

Cheers,

Lawrence Nyberg


 
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