1950s Cornelius Skripe 6-String Balalaika

Overview: This has a "Cornelius Skripe" label in the soundhole and an address in Connecticut. I am presuming he was the maker. This is an interesting balalaika, too, because it is very similar to 1920s Favilla-made balalaikas made in New York in its construction and overall style. There are some exceptions to that (mostly the headstock graft to the neck) but the other similarities are sort-of uncanny. This has original '50s-era Waverly tuners, however, which help date it to around then. This would have been intended as a steel-strung instrument (most 6-strings are), but due to the unreinforced, narrow neck it gained a bit of an upbow as it aged. To alleviate that, we've strung it with all-nylon strings (closer to what a 3-string balalaika has) and, as a result, it's got a mellow, sweet voice.

Tone: It's sweet, woody, warm, and mellow. I like it best played with a floppy flatpick but it's nice with fingers, too.

Feel: The neck is quick, slim, and narrow.

Interesting features: The nylon strings we have on it are currently tuned to the "open G" tuning that some balalaika players use -- GBD low to high in pitches close to guitar's GBE strings. It can be retuned up a whole step to AC#E with no problem or two sets of 3-string balalaika strings (EEA tuning) may be used as well.

Repairs included: Ancel gave it a fret level/dress, added side dots, and adjusted it for nylon strings during setup. It plays quick and easy and is ready to go.

• Weight: 1 lb 10 oz
• Scale length: 17 1/2"
• Nut width: 1 1/16"
• Neck shape: slim C
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 14 7/8"
• Body depth: 4 1/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid maple and mahogany
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: floating
• Fretboard: ebonized mysterywood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 2x each medium-tension guitar G, B, E classical strings
• Neck relief: mild relief
• Fret style: low/small

Condition notes: While it has some wear and tear throughout the body, it's overall in pretty good shape. The neck scarf joint (headstock to neck proper) looks like it was reglued at one point as I cleaned-off some excess glue at the seam when it was being worked-on.

It comes with: This one has a homemade hard case.

Consignor tag: WLWY