Testimonials

Rex Holmes – Solid Body Electric Bouzouki

I’ve played bouzouki for years and made do with semi-acoustic ones for gigging with the band. However, feedback issues and their delicate nature made them pretty inadequate for my needs, while trying to find a solid-body electric bouzouki was like looking for the proverbial rocking-horse droppings. I was put onto Tobin Instruments by a fella I saw at a festival playing a beautiful looking solid-body electric bouzouki and just thought, “I NEED one of those!”

Andy was brilliant from the moment I made my inquiries. He asked me my needs and wants for it, gave various different technical and pricing options and the build timescale, sent progress reports and photos at every stage, sent samples of the green wash finish I insisted on having to make sure I was 100% happy, and even got it to me a little sooner than first estimated.

So the big day arrived… and I was over the moon! The action was tailored to my needs and plays like a dream, it holds its tuning so well it needs the merest tweek between plays, the SD Hot Rail pickups give a wonderful tone, and it doesn’t half look the part, too! If you’re in the market for a solid-body electric bouzouki/mandola: stop looking, you’ve found the right place!

Thank you, Andy, it’s night and day between your creation and the firewood I was putting up with previously!

One Eyed God

Rex Holmes

Solid Body Electric Bouzouki, One Eyed God

John Ryan – Black Edition SBB

Well I received a very surprising email last week. It was from Andy Tobin that great UK luthier who makes stunning bouzoukis. I have one of them!!! Anyway myself and Andy have regularly corresponded over the years, mainly about bouzoukis but often about our dogs as well!! This aint a dogs forum so we’ll leave that for another day. Anyway, Andy wanted me to test drive a prototype bouzouki he had just completed. Needless to say I was honoured to do so and it duly arrived in my house last Friday.

It looks exactly the same as his normal design but there’s lots different going on in parts you cant see. Kind of a trade secret at the moment!! What’s it like, Absolutely awesome!!! I have a Tobin Large Body which is a great zouk and used to have a Tobin Standard which was also great but I sold that one to our good friend Seánie. The prototype is Andy’s standard SBB model size. It just jumps out of the case at ya. It has great volume, sustain that goes on and on.

Plays great up the neck plus with a capo. Doesn’t lose its responsiveness at the 7th fret which some zouks do. It’s punchy, so punchy it might knock you out!! I absolutely love it. Its going to be played by a lot of guys here in Dublin and then in about 3 weeks is going down to County Clare to the total bouzouki nerd Seánie McGrath. This will be a great session zouk. you won’t have any trouble being heard, trust me.

Oh and one more thing. I’m going to buy it!!

John Ryan

SBB Black Edition Prototype.

Seánie McGrath – Custom SBB

I am the very proud owner of an SBB made by Andy.

I’ve been lucky in life to have owned some lovely Bouzoukis from other well known makers, but this Tobin is my “go-to” instrument, it just has it all!

The overall look and design is extremely well thought out and executed. Clean lines and and tight attention to detail makes Andy’s bouzoukis extremely unique. There is something simple yet very intricate about the look of them. The workmanship is just beautiful, and there are times I just can’t stop staring at it!

The sound is clear & punchy, with a strong crisp treble, but it also has a fantastic full low end tone, making it stand out and cut through in any session. The intonation is perfect all the way up the neck, so much so that I’ve never owned a Bouzouki with so much playability as my SBB, and the more I play it the better it’s getting!

Keep doing what you’re doing Andy!

Seánie McGrath

SBB

Daoirí Farrell – Black Edition SBB

You have built quite possibly the best bouzouki that I’ve ever had strapped on to me and I don’t know what Divine power caused the earth to move such that it came to land in my hands. It is just simply the nicest instrument I have ever played, Andy. I really mean that.

Daoirí Farrell

SBB

I got home yesterday evening and the Cittern you made (and then resuscitated for us over the last fortnight) was sitting waiting for me. I played it for hours last night and I am completely blown away. The sound, the harmonics, the magic of it was a total revelation. I found myself playing things I hadn’t even imagined before and, at times, it almost felt it was playing me. I know this probably comes across as over the top but I wanted to express how grateful I am. Your instrument is sublime. You are a genius and I am delighted. Clifford told me how much he enjoyed talking to you and said it is really special to meet someone who genuinely creates things out of love and a lifetime of learning. This instrument is a special gift. I feel very honoured to be its custodian for now. Thank you so much.
Clare Gow

Cittern

I couldn’t be more pleased with this instrument. It’s by far the best that I have ever had the sheer delight to play. Every aspect of it – the ‘feel’, the quality of the construction, the machine heads, and ohhh.. how it resonates. It keeps in tune (which is something you can’t say about every instrument of that neck length) even when capoed – something that really irked with previous instruments I’ve owned! I’m so glad I went for the large body bouzouki.

It oozes quality, the tonality is just incredible, and makes me want to play it every day. It came extremely well packaged, and that wonderful smell of spruce when I unwrapped it was like a walk in a forest. Pure joy! Andy, you are a true artisan. I can’t wait to meet up again with Stevie Lawrence, who recommended you to me – both to thank him and to let him have a go on it! I know he’ll smile.

Hugh Lee

Large Body Bouzouki

Finally, yesterday night I could take the bouzouki to a session…No words… It’s incredible!!! It has a rich sound, with a great bass and a good volume! Really comfortable to play! I can’t wait to use it in concert. And the engraving it’s even better than it looks on the photo!!! Thank you so much for build this amazing instrument!! And of course for all your patience and dedication to me!!! Thanks!!!
Albert Pamies

Large Body Bouzouki

It is the finest instrument that I have played Andy, it has a sweet tone with great bottom end and sustain. What I find really striking is the way it responds to that way it is played. If you bash it on rhythm it just responds instantly and from playing over the sound hole to picking back near the bridge the sound changes so fast and makes it such a great players instrument.You are one of the best out there Andy. Thanks.
Kenny McDonald

Large Body Bouzouki

The instrument is absolutely beautiful. You are quite the artist. The bottom end is exactly what I was looking for and the overall balance of sound and resonance is just phenomenal and I’m sure it’s only going to become warmer as time goes by.
Bob Dougherty

Tenor Mandola

Thank you very much man the cittern is feckin lovely, been playing it all the time totally perfect, can’t wait to do a gig with it! so no problems at all, an excellent job altogether.
Ross Ainslie

Cittern

The Mandola has just arrived….it is…absolutely beautiful. The tone and clarity is really amazing, unbelievable. The details and finish are great. It is much better than I expected. I can truthfully say my search is over.
Mark Woodrow

Octave Mandola

The bouzouki Andy made for me is a well balanced, clear yet round-sounding instrument. Its pick-up system is excellent also, and gives me what I need for live gigs. It has a rich acoustic sound, ideal for playing in a session, to recording in the studio.

Karl Nesbitt

Bouzouki

I’d first heard about Andy’s instruments from the late Davy Steele, and had been impressed by the number of players I came across who also played a Tobin, such as Quico Comesaña from Berrogüetto and Manus Lunny of Capercaillie. I’d been after a really typical Irish bouzouki sound, when that tight, punchy, Lunny-esque sound is sometimes what’s needed! With the work with Fred Morrison beginning to take off, I took the plunge and plumped for the Tobin and I’ve been thrilled to bits with it since it arrived.
Steve Byrne

Standard Bouzouki

Sound -exactly as I asked deep and rounded with plenty power.
Looks – great I love the finish and the balance, the Gotoh pegs make tuning fun. Accuracy is perfect and general feel great. Overall I am delighted, well done and thank you. My wife’s verdict: “I thought you were buying a mandolin – that sounds really nice!”

Jean Pierre Sieczkarek

Mandolin

I have been playing Andy’s bouzoukis for as long as memory permits. Yes I have picked up and played other fine bouzoukis, but I have always been glad that it’s a Tobin in my flight case. The tonal quality, sustain, projection and build of a Tobin instrument just delivers everything a player needs for live performance, recording and especially session playing.

I often throw a capo up and down the neck during tune sets and the Tobin bouzouki holds the intonation and tuning remarkably well. Andy’s reputation as a luthier is well deserved… Oh, and he’s one of the good guys too.

Russ Davidson

Standard and Large Body Bouzoukis

Bouzouki has arrived! Excellent, going to spend the next couple of hours getting to know it. It sounds fantastic! Thank you.
Paul McKenna

Standard Bouzouki

The sound is awesome, I like it very much. The bass is more powerful than I expected, and I like it. And the trebles are so bright – I just say thanks, what else I can say?

Nelo Mascaros, Valencia

Large Body Bouzouki