Restoration of a beautiful, custom Zozef bouzouki !

Conundrum of two eras! 

During an intense and long-lasting research of finding  Zozef Tesrzivasian bouzoukia, some of us are lucky enough to posses one or two instruments made by the hands of the master luthier. 

Some others, are blessed to own some of the most unique and custom Zozef bouzoukia ever made.

John Roussos purchased  the following bouzouki in 1970, accompanied by a good friend of mine, John Papageorgas Pappas,  at Zozef's shop in Piraeus. 

Accordingly to Mr Roussos, the bouzouki was originally made for the famous music composer Markos Vamvakaris.

It was hanging on a wall at Zozef's workshop, without the soundboard.

Accordingly to Zozef, the instrument  was constructed during the 1950s as a custom order for Markos Vamvakaris - who at some point ended up in prison- and he never bought it.

The bouzouki recently masterfully repaired by the renowned luthier Chris Pantazelos ( in Lowell, MA).http://spartaninstruments.com/ 

What is so unique and intriguing, regarding  this custom bouzouki, is the strong influence it carries by the Neapolitan mandolins of the late 19th century, and the Greek bouzouki of the 1940s-1950s

Someone would say that the master luthier Zozef "handpicked" so successfully on this bouzouki , elements from two different instruments and two different eras.

1. The bowl with the fluted ribs and the light color wooden filet around the capping strips, vividly resembles Neapolitan mandolins of the 1850s-1900s ( My Neapolitan converted mandolo-bouzouko dating back in 1890s, had the exact  same design ) 

2. The metal plates on the head-stock, and the tuning machines were also "borrowed"  by a mandolin and inverted to accommodate the needs for this bouzouki.

3. The pick-guard design is a beautiful conundrum between a Neapolitan butterfly design, and Zozef's daisy flowers

4. The upper fret-marks creating the word ZOZEF are one of the most unique elements I  have ever seen on a Zozef custom bouzouki.  

Chris Pantazelos kindly shared with me photographs from the restoration progress of Mr. Roussos' bouzouki. Enjoy !