Greek Luthiers of Trichordo

A list from the heart!

3D heart created by SDimis

From time to time I have mentioned in this blog, names of "underdog" luthiers, who have piqued my attention and interest,  by their bouzouki creations and their unparalleled passion in traditional Greek lutherie.

Each one of them holds unique talents, skills, and great love for the traditional lutherie
Here is a list without order:


1. Kostantinos Tsopelas:
http://www.mousikaorgana.com/en/index.html
A luthier with  high aesthetics and beautiful finish, creates instruments with unique personal designs. He has the talent to incorporate Byzantine decorative elements, in a modern way,using high quality materials and top quality natural sea shells. He maintains also a Facebook web-page.

2.  Stelios Tsilimigkas :
https://steliostsilimigkas.wixsite.com/luthier
A young, talented, and passionate luthier creating instruments of the bouzouki family, with a very unique, and sweet pre-war style sound . The luthier pays great attention to detail, using a tear shape, old-style mold for his creations, and a simple style decoration motive, made prominently by beautiful old woods. The luthier is using always  French shellac polish for the completion of his instruments, included in the very reasonable price tag.

3. Andreas Dellios:
https://www.facebook.com/organopoieio.gr
A luthier with high aesthetic view, creates instruments using untreated, wild, natural woods. With his instruments appearance and sound, he can transfer you back to the years of Peiraiotiko Rebetiko 1930s-1940s era. Specialized in "mother of bouzouki" bowl shapes (mpouzoukomanes) and beautiful tear shape bowls

4. Giannis Kadoglou:
https://www.facebook.com/Kadoglou.Luthiery/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
This talented luthier constructs mostly beautiful three-course bouzouki instruments inspired by the Golden era ( 1940s-1955s). His creations are characterized by the beautiful and powerful sound they produce, but also by the high level aesthetics which the luthier possesses. Attention to detail, and  impeccable finish, is Giannis signature. 

5. Nikos Paisios:
http://paisiosnikos.wordpress.com
A luthier with great attention to detail, professional finish and a very beautiful trichordo sound. One of luthier's characteristic is the unique inlay designs and themes on his bouzoukis soundboard and fret-board. .Has become famous for the recreation of many Zozef and Panagis style bouzoukia with ebony bowl

6. Petros Zaranis:

http://www.p-zaranis.gr
This luthier (and gifted musician), is faithful to traditional instrument making, with great moral character, beautiful sound, and very economical prices.Some of his bouzouki / tzoura shapes are closer to oriental style.

7. Dimitris Andreou:
http://bouzoukimaker.blogspot.com
A luthier characterized by his ethos and the selfless pleasure to publicly share his knowledge on instrument making. His bouzouki creations made by expensive, high quality materials without any compromise in his work. He constructs trixorda and tetrachorda bouzoukia with great sound and beautiful, rich decoration.

8.  Vagges2010:
http://vagges2010.blogspot.com/
This luthier enthusiast with high morality values and ethos, has created only few bouzouki instruments. But his creations characterized by the unsurpassed finish, highest quality materials and woods, precision, and perfection. Another must see luthier!

9. Giorgos Isidorou:
http://luthierschool.blogspot.com/
This luthier apart from his great and beautiful bouzouki creations, will surprise you with the unconditional  love and passion which he possesses for the Art of lutherie .Also with his restless motivation to explore and discover all the technical laws governing the science of instrument making, in a ceaseless search for the perfection in sound quality.

10.  Vaggelis Panagiotou:
https://myspace.com/vagelis_panagiotou
The great talent in wood carving in conjunction with the high aesthetic point of view, and the use of natural untreated woods, makes the creations of this  luthier, small masterpieces.

11. Antonis Mulonas:

http://woodandguitar.blogspot.com
I know only a few things regarding Antonis and his creations , but his bouzouki instruments look very attractive , with very simple old trichordo style decoration, and great attention to details and professional finish.

12. Nikolaos Fereos:
A luthier who has nothing to envy from the master luthiers' work. From construction to finish, his instruments are beautiful pieces of Art.With a great sound, Nikolaos creates trixordo instruments inspired by the old Rebetiko era, and the earlier hybrid era (tabouro-bouzouka).He is a frequent member of Rebetiko.gr and Luthier.gr forums where you can find posts of his musical instrument creations.

13. Kostas Zarkadas:

Last but not least, a talented luthier who experiments with unique tear shape bowls and unique materials as water-pumpkin for bouzouki  bowl. His creations are influenced by the old rebetiko era and the  hybrid era , carrying simple wooden decorative and producing a beautiful sound. He  also performs bouzouki repairs.He is a frequent member of  Luthier.gr forum where you can find posts of his musical instrument creations.

And of course they are a lot of master luthiers who I also admire as:

1. Panagiotis Varlas
https://www.facebook.com/bouzoukia.varlas
One of the oldest and most famous master luthiers remaining, with clients most of the well known bouzouki players and musicians. Famous for his characteristic sound quality and the melodic and clear timbre of the A strings his bouzoukia produce.

2. Tasos Theodorakis:
http://www.theodorakis.name
The creator of my Politko bouzouki, makes instruments with exceptional finish, great nostalgic sound, and a solid but at the same time light construction which will last for a life time! His instruments carry the beautiful aroma of Konstantinoupoli.

3. Tasos Katsifis:
http://tasoskatsifis.gr/
The famous master luthier, with clients most of the well known bouzouki soloists. His instruments have proven that they can withstand the test of time, carrying at the same time  an exceptional quality of sound.

4. Jannis Alexandris:
https://sites.google.com/site/alexandrisjannis/Home
Great master luthier, and gifted musician. I have been inspired by his instruments and the "Politiko" aroma most of his creations have.

5. Nikos Fronimopoulos:
http://fronik.wordpress.com
Precision, precision , precision. This gifted master luthier with unmatched aesthetics, has elevated the Artistic lutherie into a thesis of a high-end science.

6. Panagiotis Kafetzopoulos:
His whole attitude towards life, and his bouzouki creations, makes him  stand out as one of the top master luthiers in Greece (for trixordo bouzouki) with exceptional artistic view, and custom creations from an era we are all longing. Unfortunately the luthier doesn't have a website. In Rebetiko.gr forum or http://greekluthiers.wordpress.com someone can find contact information regarding his physical address and telephone number.

7. Isidoros & Andreas Papadamou:
http://www.trixordo.com/index.php/en
Papadamou family creates instruments with great characteristic sound.With a profound knowledge on
woods and sounds, and with great variety in designs and bouzouki shapes, someone can find instruments from the basic trixordo bouzouki to the exact historical replica  of the unique Giovan Tsaous tabourobouzouko.

8. Xristos Spourdalakis:
http://www.music-instruments.gr
Master luthier with a multi-annual experience in traditional lutherie and a characteristic sound, he combines high level aesthetics, unique designs, high quality woods, and implementation of new technologies in bouzouki durability as the use of carbon-fiber.

9. Giorgos Karellas:
http://www.karellas.gr
Master luthier, with beautiful simple designs , excellent finish, and a beautiful, mature trixordo sound. He creates also interwar style trixorda. His web site is easy to navigate, and his prices include a hard-case, strings, picks and shipping cost for delivery all over the world.

10. Giannis Karvounis:
http://www.greekbouzouki.gr
Master luthier with characteristic beautiful sound. He creates tetrachorda and trichorda, but I mostly like his tear shape deep tzourades and the old style trichorda inspired by Zozef decoration and style.

11. Xordofonon:
http://www.hordofonon.com
Two luthiers under one workshop, create instruments with the old trichordo aroma and with beautiful mat finish. By their web sites photos, I can detect a high level of aesthetic view, and the use of beautiful woods. I don't have yet information regarding their sound and durability of their instruments.

12. Kotses Brothers:
http://www.taximi.gr
Kotses brothers create instruments with exceptional finish, using  beautiful exotic woods, and unique decorations with great aesthetics.

13. Dimitris Rapakousios:
http://www.dimitrisouds.com
Last but not least, a Master luthier with very unique aesthetics, and a beautiful,  characteristic sound. Inspired by the old Rebetiko era, Dimitris Rapakousios is using only the best, beautiful, and hard to find old woods, creating instruments  with unsurpassed beauty and distinctive identity.

14. Leonidas Spanos:
Out of the competition, stands alone a great artist, remarkable sculptor, and talented luthier from Cyprus, who creates with unparalleled passion, masterpieces.From the unique way he constructs his musical instruments, to the old woods he is using, and the amazing carved woodwork, his stringed laoutobouzouka, and tzourades, will transfer you back to the years of the hybrid bouzouki era.The luthier doesn't have a website, but he maintains a Facebook webpage.

PS: This page will be updated periodically as I will  add  more luthiers, after evaluating and  having a  more clear opinion regarding their musical instrument creations.
Of course are many many more gifted luthiers around the world  who create professional trichordo bouzouki instruments, not included in this list at this moment.