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Where to safely buy "ethnic" instruments of good quality online?

Evans

Evans

Senior Member
Well, we're in a pandemic and travel is out of scope.

I'm looking for some reputable online dealers, luthiers, etc., hoping to pick up up some non-standard (from a boring American perspective) instruments to learn. Whether I use it for a future recording; simply learn how it's constructed and maintained; or it ends up a pretty wall hanging because I and/or it sucks, I want to grab a few things.

Anyone have some experience here? An easy, safe, online purchase will likely influence what I buy. I'm, usually, mostly interested in strings (bowed, keyed), winds, and tuned percussion. Region doesn't matter.

I know it's a broad question and not specific to finding one instrument, which is admittedly annoying. I just want to expand my knowledge. I pick up anything. Doesn't mean I'm good at it, but I try.

I'm aware of potential cost and am happy to commission (knowing that some quality builders of more complex instruments have waitlists of easily 12-24 months). Beyond indecisiveness on what to pick up, I keep ending up with questions about safe online sellers.

Examples of things I've been researching, but I'm pretty open:
  • Maybe something keyed, like a hurdy-gurdy, moraharpa, or nyckelharpa (pretty difficult to find, very long waitlist in some cases)
  • Something bowed like a sarangi or kemençe that's played with the nails (not fingertips)
Thanks, y'all!

(And yes, the word "ethnic" is slightly uncomfortable, but I've been assured that its meaning of "a common national or cultural tradition" makes it appropriate and not as dirty as it feels)
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Update:

I found a family friend who has made orders from Eason Music in Singapore. I ordered a dizi from them yesterday. I imagine that will be a chore to learn, which is great. I've only ever played reed woodwinds before.

I'm also toying around with the idea of ordering a hammered dulcimer, from either Master Works or Dusty Strings (or possibly James Jones). It's more of an expensive purchase, and my wife will kill me if I do... not because of the cost, but because it's not exactly a quiet instrument. My biggest hurdle in this decision is whether or not I bother to go with dampers now or annoyingly retrofit them later.
 
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I've bought a kemenche and a saz from this place:
salamuzik.com

The Best Ethnic Musical Instruments Shop | Sala Muzik

The stringed, percussion and woodwind music instruments that belongs to East Culture are at Sala Muzik now! Please click here to enjoy Sala Muzik ethnic instruments.
salamuzik.com salamuzik.com

They specialise in Turkish/ Arabic/ Middle Eastearn instruments.

Extremely happy with both, good prices and fast delivery from Turkey to the UK. Owner is lovely as well, personally emailed me to thank for the purchases!
 
Try Lark in the Morning for many of these, including the dulcimer and hurdy gurdy.

I would also recommend SongbirdHD for hammered dulcimers. Master Works or Dusty Strings are fantastic, but they are also going to be much more expensive.

Prior to the pandemic there used to be an annual dulcimer festival near to me where one could meet many of these makers in person as well as hear many performers and network with many dulcimer folks. Maybe there is something similar in your area.

Finally, see if there are any folk music instrument shops around you. Again, prior to the pandemic there was an instrument shop in my town that specialized in all sorts of "ethnic" instruments. Unfortunately, many of these have gone under. Hopefully, maybe by next Summer things will normalize again.

With folk harps, etc. sometimes it's best to go directly to the maker. Search on YT and see what "brand" your favorite artist is using and start from there.
 
Wes Antczak said:
Try Lark in the Morning for many of these, including the dulcimer and hurdy gurdy.

I would also recommend SongbirdHD for hammered dulcimers. Master Works or Dusty Strings are fantastic, but they are also going to be much more expensive.
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Thanks! I think I saw them on a list, but hadn't yet made it through to their website yet. SongbirdHD sounds pretty good for the price. Quality of build and tone are more important to me than price, though, especially when dealing with an addition like a damper. That said, there's obviously a point at which it's "good enough." Decisions are hard.

JamelaBanderson said:
Does it have to be new? Often you can find a used ethnic instrument locally. FB Marketplace, auctions, friends of friends, etc.
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Unfortunately, the past five or so years of Fb Marketplace (and many more of Craigslist) have shown me that the only things I can expect to pick up in my area are guitars and - for some reason - bongos. So many bongos.
 
Great thread ! I'm bookmarking all your suggestions.

By the way, do you guys know any seller in the European Union for ethnic instruments? I'm mainly looking for asian and middle eastern instruments and trying to avoid customs bureaucracy which are always a big headache.

I am also leaving 3 sites german sellers which are great

www.afroton.de

Afroton

Afroton ist Spezialist für afrikanische Instrumente und Instrumente aus aller Welt. Als Importeur und Vertrieb für authentische, ethnische Instrument…
www.afroton.de www.afroton.de

Folkfriends - besondere Musikinstrumente aus Mittelalter, Renaissance und Folkmusik

Deutschlands größter Fachhandel für ausgefallene Musikinstrumente und Zubehör. Jetzt auch mit Werkstatt: Cistern- Bouzouki- und Gitarrenreparatur, Einrichtung von Instrumenten u.v.m.
folkfriends.com folkfriends.com
www.thomann.de

Thomann - Welcome Home!

Browse our huge range of musical instruments, studio, lighting, and PA equipment at Europe's largest music retailer. We have the hottest brands, affordable alternatives and many free resources for musicians.
www.thomann.de www.thomann.de
 
Wes Antczak said:
I would also recommend SongbirdHD for hammered dulcimers.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this recommendation! I ended up ordering from them, as it seemed pretty good quality for the price.

I like that they were responsive over email, and have shown through videos and website updates how they've changed their build technique over the years. They're just not the prettiest things, compared to Master Works or some of what James Jones has.

I'm really looking forward to this hammered dulcimer, since my hands aren't cooperating as much as they used to on the agility needed for some guitar chord shapes and transitions.
 
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Evans said:
Thanks for this recommendation! I ended up ordering from them, as it seemed pretty good quality for the price.

I like that they were responsive over email, and have shown through videos and website updates how they've changed their build technique over the years. They're just not the prettiest things, compared to Master Works or some of what James Jones has.

I'm really looking forward to this hammered dulcimer, since my hands aren't cooperating as much as they used to on the agility needed for some guitar chord shapes and transitions.
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That's great! I'm sure you'll like it. I have a Chickadee and I love it.
 
Niah2 said:
Great thread ! I'm bookmarking all your suggestions.

By the way, do you guys know any seller in the European Union for ethnic instruments? I'm mainly looking for asian and middle eastern instruments and trying to avoid customs bureaucracy which are always a big headache.

I am also leaving 3 sites german sellers which are great

www.afroton.de

Afroton

Afroton ist Spezialist für afrikanische Instrumente und Instrumente aus aller Welt. Als Importeur und Vertrieb für authentische, ethnische Instrument…
www.afroton.de www.afroton.de

Folkfriends - besondere Musikinstrumente aus Mittelalter, Renaissance und Folkmusik

Deutschlands größter Fachhandel für ausgefallene Musikinstrumente und Zubehör. Jetzt auch mit Werkstatt: Cistern- Bouzouki- und Gitarrenreparatur, Einrichtung von Instrumenten u.v.m.
folkfriends.com folkfriends.com
www.thomann.de

Thomann - Welcome Home!

Browse our huge range of musical instruments, studio, lighting, and PA equipment at Europe's largest music retailer. We have the hottest brands, affordable alternatives and many free resources for musicians.
www.thomann.de www.thomann.de
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I remember running into a place that sold ethnic instruments in Salzburg, Austria. Been a long time ago, so I lost their contact info, but might be a good start if you are willing to search.
 
I bought a ghuzheng from this place:


I actually went in person since they were in SoCal, but they are mainly an online retailer. They seemed a little surprised at a clueless white boy walking in and asking about ghuzhengs, and the young Chinese girl in the shop actually asked me with a mystified tone "You.... play... traditional Chinese music?" Then she taped the picks onto her fingers and started absolutely ripping out some traditional riffs. Hauting, expressive.... amazing.

After I told her that I just wanted to be able to experiment with the instrument in film scores, she explained that "from $500 to $1,000 the sound quality gets better. From $1,000 to $5,000 the sound quality is the same, but the decoration and craftsmanship gets better." And the expensive ones sure were beautiful, but I didn't want some showpiece that I'd feel bad about leaving it in a closet until I needed it. So I opted for a model that cost around $800 and it's been awesome to have around. I use it for plucking and bowing and it's been really cool to have.

They also have lots of Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese instruments as well. Just aim for the middle of the price range and you'll probably be happy.
 
charlieclouser said:
I bought a ghuzheng from this place:


I actually went in person since they were in SoCal, but they are mainly an online retailer. They seemed a little surprised at a clueless white boy walking in and asking about ghuzhengs, and the young Chinese girl in the shop actually asked me with a mystified tone "You.... play... traditional Chinese music?" Then she taped the picks onto her fingers and started absolutely ripping out some traditional riffs. Hauting, expressive.... amazing.

After I told her that I just wanted to be able to experiment with the instrument in film scores, she explained that "from $500 to $1,000 the sound quality gets better. From $1,000 to $5,000 the sound quality is the same, but the decoration and craftsmanship gets better." And the expensive ones sure were beautiful, but I didn't want some showpiece that I'd feel bad about leaving it in a closet until I needed it. So I opted for a model that cost around $800 and it's been awesome to have around. I use it for plucking and bowing and it's been really cool to have.

They also have lots of Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese instruments as well. Just aim for the middle of the price range and you'll probably be happy.
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I've been curious about buying a Ronroco or a Charango, but have been hesitant to take a punt and order one sight (or "hearing") unseen for delivery to Australia. Have you had any experience with these instruments Charlie?
 
I can recommend salamuzik.com for excellent quality Turkish and middle eastern instruments. I bought a saz/baglama and riq (a kind of very high quality tambourine) from them this year. I was impressed with their prompt communication and delivery- when they discovered the saz I had ordered was out of stock they offered to substitute a more expensive one. I may order a qanun (plucked zither) from them which is a ravishing sound.
 
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CGR said:
I've been curious about buying a Ronroco or a Charango, but have been hesitant to take a punt and order one sight (or "hearing") unseen for delivery to Australia. Have you had any experience with these instruments Charlie?
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No, I haven't ever touched either of those in the flesh. When I bought the ghuzheng I had never even been in the same room as one, that's why I wanted to go to the shop in person, just to see what the heck they were all about. And I was relieved when the girl told me that bit about the sound improving from $500 to $1,000 and above that it was all prettiness of inlaid wood and stuff.

I certainly wouldn't know a good one from a bad one - and considering the way I use it the difference probably wouldn't matter. I figured as long as it has a decent amount of sustain and isn't made of balsa wood then I'd be fine. And I was.
 
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I'm actually looking to get a Hurdy Gurdy next year. Seems many are around the 1k mark. There's an artist called Patty Gurdy that has some really awesome ones and they are made in Germany, but not sure I want to go in like that.
 
IFM said:
I'm actually looking to get a Hurdy Gurdy next year. Seems many are around the 1k mark. There's an artist called Patty Gurdy that has some really awesome ones and they are made in Germany, but not sure I want to go in like that.
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Haha, yes, those are going to run that or easily twice. Lead time can also be a year or two before they get to your order. Tough market.
 
+1 for Sounds of Asia, I also bought a Guzheng from them (the $500 model) and it sounds great and feels very sturdy and well-made.
 
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