"Ragmakamtar version #4" ...otherwise known as the "Baritone Ragmakamtar" is a very well made instrument. Version #3, which is extraordinarily well made (built over a 7 month period in Istanbul at the workshop of Faruk Turunz), had some problems with ergonomics and tone - therefore I set out to correct these problems with a new design which included a somewhat warped (or "pregnant") soundboard shape, longer string scale, and different bracing pattern. I built this instrument alongside Nadishana's Dzuddahord, and in the process of building learned a lot - in fact I was 3/4 the way through building went I realised that the design was not optimal... but what to do? I completed it, and went through a lengthy voicing process to finally come up with a very interesting and rich sounding instrument. But it was not exactly what I was after, and the weight/balance issues made for a difficult instrument to play. The instrument rests now in Vancouver in storage, still without sympathetic strings and varnish... I did luckily have the opportunity for perform one concert with this instrument, and this is on Youtube.
 
   

 

 

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