Instrument Quality Influencing Playing Ability

[R. Matijasec]

My question to you all is: for a developing tambura player, how important is having a good quality instrument.

My brac was made by Mike Turcic, out of Alison, Pennsylvania. It’s not a bad instrument, but I can’t help feeling it could be a lot better. What tamburas do you guys think are important for a beginner to have? And which tamburas are the best ?

[Ivan_Petracic]

well first of all. Just play what you got, you'll learn to appreciate it. As for the "best tamburas" every musician has a different taste. I do not have one favourite type of tambura i like having different stuff. for example:

I ordered a Basprim from Hrvatska from a guy name Marinko Katulic, i love his basprims but i do not like his prims as much as Krklec. Just the other weekend. Inspektor showed me a prim from Hrvatska made by Tuca's brother (sorry dont know the name). I liked it a lot and when i get enough money i'm going to order one.

My opinion for beginners is play what you have and learn to love it. I have old Tamburas which might not sound so great compared to my new ones but they have so much sentimental value that i keep them and occasionally play them.

I'm sure your Brac is fine, play your heart out!

[jokirinaround]

Well having taught children for a number of years, This topic has come my way on numerous occasions.

I believe you need to have quality instrument from the begining. I have picked up some instruments that some of these children use and they are nothing but firewood. There is no way you could get excited about playing one of these instruments. They are hard to play and they have an ugly sound.

My suggestion: Collect these bad tambura replicas and lets burn them all at T-Land fest. hmmm we might want to include g-prims as well.

jka

[Snajper]

joekirnaround!
I lost your phone #. Call or email me. Need to talk about janjetina & prasetina.,\
Snajper

[jokirinaround]

send me private message. I don't have your email or current phone number

jka

[am]

I agree with Joe 100%.
When I first started playing, my strings were so far from the neck I needed 2 fingers to play anything higher than the 4th fret. When I finally had the opprotunity to get a better tambura.... well it was like 'butter'

If there is a sign of promise and a hint of practice, buy the better quality, you can always resell it.

Actually Joe, I think you were one of the many that said that my 1st tambura wasn't even qualified to be called firewood.

I bought a nice prim (djuretic) not too expensive with nice action and sound. He's got other instruments that are nice as well, varing in sound, action and of course cost.

[Aussie^Tamburas]

Gday Fellas,
Aussie is putting his stamp of approval. I beleive u need a good instrument to practise on how can u play with firewood? I had firewood for a while and then I bought a kudlik prim my ability improved tramendously and coz its a good instrument I love it even more. I paid alot for it but it was worth it coz now I got no probs I will buy a Gez prim soon just like Janikas its funny how taste changes. I got 2 kudliks and 1 Stari Zaric Basprim and 1 kontra which is firewood but I only use it for harmony not performance and now I want a Gez like janikas high pitch sound and thin neck mmmmmmm I love it

hehe ok fellas.

Dundee

[SRVT]

Thanks for your life story. My next prim is gonna be a silver tambura with gold trim, that was hand made by Janika.... :D .....the action leaves something to be desired, but what a sound.....

[Ivan_Petracic]

firewood lol. C'mon guys we can't be burning tambure cuz they sound bad. You want a solution?

give em to Duka, next time he goes to Japan he can sell em for a great price smile.gif

[SARMEL]

Hey Aussie
Just wondering where your got your kudliks from and how much did you pay? Basprims that is. I like Kudliks a lot and wouldnt mind getting my hands on one.

[Brankec]

Aussie man ... you have 2 Kutlik's ... you wanna sell me one of those ... from my personal experience, i love Bocan bas prims ... it's what i use and i love it, from sound to playability, i'm sure SVRT will agree ... i've had a Novak bas prim (Novak - Zagreb) ... nice instrument, very good sound .. right VANKUVER lol ... i also have a Nikolic (Tuca's brother) .. it's alright, not too crazy about the sound or the worksmanship on the instrument ... but i have played a Kutlik, the guys in Berde Band use them, i got to play one and it was beautiful ... so Aussie, prijatelju moj ... name your price, i'll throw in a bottle of PIJON's Sljiva cause i'm a nice guy ....

Aj' Bok .... Cujemo Se ...

[Aussie^Tamburas]

Gday Brankec,
sorry mate I would love to sell you a kudlik basprim but unfortunately u made the same mistake as Marcel. I don't have kudlik basprims I have kudlik PRIMS. Which I would never sell I want to get my hands on a kudlik basprim but now I use a Stari Zaric basprim. Also maybe I should start a new topic with this but I am recording a CD all originals. I wrote all the arrangements and will play prim and celo on it. It should be ready soon and will put it on tamburaland for all.

Thanks

catch ya

Dundee

[Djuroslav]

And who do you have playing the rest of the parts, Aussie? :confused:

[Aussie^Tamburas]

Djuro well we are having basprim 1 and 2 recorded by the composer. Prim and Celo the arranger ME. I would record basprims but not that much time. My mate will record kontra and berda thats pretty much it. Hopefully it turns out good and u tammies love it hehe

catch ya

Dundee

[Ivan_Petracic]

when u get a recording done send it to Vjeko so he can post it and we can listen to it.

[Aussie^Tamburas]

Gday Ivan,
I am in the process of recording a kolo that I composed and ofcourse will post it on T-land. Hope you's like it smile.gif

catch yas

Dundee

[Marko_z]

Are Kudlik and boncan made by the same guy or am i just stupid???

[Aussie^Tamburas]

Gday Marko,
Kudlik and Bocan are made by 2 different people. I just remembered Hrvoje Majic had a Torman Basprim. TORMAN what a sick name hehe.

PS You not stupid

catch ya

Dundee

[Slavko Frapstick]

I still say kudlik makes the best basprim from what ive seen. But Torman is also very good. I believe Joekirinaround has a torman.

[Aussie^Tamburas]

yeah JOKIRINAROUND does have a TORMA its not TORMAN. I apologise for the typo in my previous post. I also love Kudlik Basprims there very SEXUAL hehe.

thanks

DUNDEE

[saky]

Aussie, prijatelju, pogledaj si private messages, kod mene jos pise da nisi procitao koju sam ti poslao prije skoro metar dana...pozdrav! smile.gif

[Ivan_Petracic]

I like the new Stuff. Marinko has really come a long way with his Basprims. They sound amazing. As for new prims. Krklec has some good stuff when it comes to prims. I have an E prim and G prim from him and they are the best prim's i've ever played