Thomann Irish Concert Bouzouki PU

Here in the UK we can find similar models to Thomann's M1089-P, but they are twice the price of Thomann. After that, there's not a lot available until you're spending at least £6-700 for an Irish Bouzouki with a pickup.

The Thomann's PU model I received is very well-built of good-looking, even-grained wood front and back; the varnish and polish is very even and covers all joints and crannies (something cheaper instruments used to fall down on). It is maybe a little boring in design (the headstock is very plain and I don't personally like the stuck-on carved soundhole that much), but overall it has a very honest, workmanlike design that carries through to the sound. I'd rather have a plain instrument than one covered in tatty bling.

Most importantly for a fixed bridge instrument, the intonation and the setup is excellent and the sound across the fingerboard is very even and lively. The pickup with 3-band EQ is fair, and considering this was the main reason I was looking for this type of instrument I'm more than pleased. I may well restring it with unisons on the lower two (it comes in octaves), which will mean a little fettling with the nut, but other than that I could tune and play this straight out of the box - which is exactly what I did, for most of the evening. :-)

A £1,000 bouzouki will have more depth of tone, but this instrument cost me £180 and I'm very pleased with it. Thanks, Thomann.

I decided to order one of these after reading the favourable reviews on both the instrument and Thomann. I was expecting it to arrive strung with octave strings, therefore I ordered an additional set of D'addario unison strings. So I was delighted when it arrived strung with unison strings which meant that I could forego the trouble of converting it myself. The tuners are of good quality and the instrument has stayed in tune nicely even when strummed quite vigorously. The tone is lovely and it can be varied depending on where you choose to position your right hand when striking the strings. I've only briefly tried it plugged in, but it seems to retain it's natural tone quite well and it has controls to alter the amount of treble, middle & bass. The wood is beautifully finished and the frets are not sharp or protruding in any way. I haven't played any other bouzouki so I'm not qualified to give a comparison, but it does seem to be a good quality instrument and I'm very happy with it. I intend to play it tuned to GDAD, but I may also occasionally tune it to GDAE for recording purposes when I want it to sound like a mandolin (ie. when capoed high up the neck). I have a mandolin which I've played for decades, but unfortunately it doesn't have a pickup, but now I've bought this bouzouki, it's like having two instruments in one.