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bouzouki/greek instruments on greek vacation for cheap?

visiting greece soon and would like to bring back some culture. thus, i would like to buy an instrument while i am there. i will be traveling all over greece to many different cities (including athens) and to a few islands. i would like to know if i will be able to find a cheap/used bouzouki or mandolin (i.e. <200 euro) fairly easily. i will be with a tour group with a tight schedule so simply wandering off will not be an option.

Public Comments

1. If you wander around monastiraki, which, if you are on a guided tour will no doubt be part of your trip, you will find some bouzoukia and mandolins. However, it will not be so easy. I know of one place that sells them but I barely remember where it is, you have to ask around. Although I do not know much about musical instruments, I assume you will get cheap tourist crap there, like most everything else that is sold there. There is a guy in my neighborood who makes great stuff, and I have no idea what a decent bouzouki costs, but you can send him an email. We are in Athens, but nowhere near the center. If you send him a mail I am sure he can arrange to get the instrument to you rather than you coming all the way out here to the suburbs. I don't know this man, but I know he has a good reputation and has been in business for years: http://www.bouzouki-kleftoyiannis.gr P.S. I just saw on his site that he has a shop much closer to the city center in Kypseli... A little preparation may get you a decent instrument for that amount of money rather than a touristic piece of garbage. Good Luck!
2. Mina has given you sound information. However, I'm not sure you can buy a bouzouki for 200€ even used one. That instrument is totally hand-made and the making of it is a few days work, but you never know if you get a real good bargain. Learning to play bouzouki is a hard and long process. My advice is to try buy a baglamas which being a small organ with very characteristic sound is easier to play and cheaper as a buy. Or even a Cretan lyra if you happen to be in Crete. That too is easy to learn to play.