2004 Ozark (Hora) 6-String Balalaika

Overview: Amazingly, this instrument has a date (2004) and retail label in the soundhole. It mentions that it was made in Romania and that almost certainly means it was made at the Hora factory. It's a 6-string balalaika that would have originally been strung with steel strings, but we noticed that the neck had a hair of upbow as it was, so we converted it to nylon-stringing instead. It's currently setup for the "Russian guitar" adaptation tuning for balalaika -- GBD low to high -- using two sets of low-G tenor ukulele strings to suit.

Tone: It's got a clean, sweet, sound with decent volume.

Feel: The neck is slim and quick with a little more width than older balalaikas.

Interesting features: I love the inlaid scratchplate/pickguard near the soundhole. It's reminiscent of plenty of older, folksy balalaikas.

Repairs included: Ancel gave it a level/dress job, setup, and adjustments to the bridge. It's playing quick and easy and ready to go.

• Weight: 1 lb 12 oz
• Scale length: 17 1/4"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: medium C with hair of V
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 16 1/4"
• Body depth: 3 3/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid maple
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: unsure
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 2x GCE strings from 2 sets of low-G tenor uke strings
• Neck relief: essentially straight
• Fret style: lower/smaller

Condition notes: There's a little wear and tear to the fretboard from picking at its extension and there's mild usewear throughout in the form of very light scratching, but overall it looks good.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: WNWL