Well I received a very surprising email last week. It was from Andy Tobin that great UK luthier who makes stunning bouzoukis. I have one of them!!! Anyway myself and Andy have regularly corresponded over the years, mainly about bouzoukis but often about our dogs as well!! This aint a dogs forum so we’ll leave that for another day. Anyway, Andy wanted me to test drive a prototype bouzouki he had just completed. Needless to say I was honoured to do so and it duly arrived in my house last Friday.

It looks exactly the same as his normal design but there’s lots different going on in parts you cant see. Kind of a trade secret at the moment!! What’s it like, Absolutely awesome!!! I have a Tobin Large Body which is a great zouk and used to have a Tobin Standard which was also great but I sold that one to our good friend Seanie. The prototype is Andy’s standard SBB model size. It just jumps out of the case at ya. It has great volume, sustain that goes on and on.

Plays great up the neck plus with a capo. Doesn’t lose its responsiveness at the 7th fret which some zouks do. It’s punchy, so punchy it might knock you out!! I absolutely love it. Its going to be played by a lot of guys here in Dublin and then in about 3 weeks is going down to County Clare to the total bouzouki nerd Seanie McGrath. This will be a great session zouk. you won’t have any trouble being heard, trust me.

Oh and one more thing. I’m going to buy it!!

I got home yesterday evening and the Cittern you made (and then resuscitated for us over the last fortnight) was sitting waiting for me. I played it for hours last night and I am completely blown away. The sound, the harmonics, the magic of it was a total revelation. I found myself playing things I hadn’t even imagined before and, at times, it almost felt it was playing me. I know this probably comes across as over the top but I wanted to express how grateful I am. Your instrument is sublime. You are a genius and I am delighted. Clifford told me how much he enjoyed talking to you and said it is really special to meet someone who genuinely creates things out of love and a lifetime of learning. This instrument is a special gift. I feel very honoured to be its custodian for now. Thank you so much.

Finally, yesterday night I could take the bouzouki to a session…No words… It’s incredible!!! It has a rich sound, with a great bass and a good volume! Really comfortable to play! I can’t wait to use it in concert. And the engraving it’s even better than it looks on the photo!!! Thank you so much for build this amazing instrument!! And of course for all your patience and dedication to me!!! Thanks!!!

The instrument is absolutely beautiful. You are quite the artist. The bottom end is exactly what I was looking for and the overall balance of sound and resonance is just phenomenal and I’m sure it’s only going to become warmer as time goes by.

The Mandola has just arrived….it is…absolutely beautiful. The tone and clarity is really amazing, unbelievable. The details and finish are great. It is much better than I expected. I can truthfully say my search is over.

I’d first heard about Andy’s instruments from the late Davy Steele, and had been impressed by the number of players I came across who also played a Tobin, such as Quico Comesaña from Berrogüetto and Manus Lunny of Capercaillie. I’d been after a really typical Irish bouzouki sound, when that tight, punchy, Lunny-esque sound is sometimes what’s needed! With the work with Fred Morrison beginning to take off, I took the plunge and plumped for the Tobin and I’ve been thrilled to bits with it since it arrived.

I have been playing Andy’s bouzoukis for as long as memory permits. Yes I have picked up and played other fine bouzoukis, but I have always been glad that its a Tobin in my flight case. The tonal quality, sustain, projection and build of a Tobin instrument just delivers everything a player needs for live performance, recording and especially session playing.

I often throw a capo up and down the neck during tune sets and the Tobin bouzouki holds the intonation and tuning remarkably well. Andy’s reputation as a luthier is well deserved… Oh, and he’s one of the good guys too.