Bulgarian Tambura (Lute)
No. 4, 1981 - Aleksandr Eppler

--one of less than ten such instruments in existence

Large views:

Front - full
Front - top
Front - body
Front - bridge
Back
Side
Side - neck
Side - neck detail
Bottom
Centre

Eppler tamburas have a unique design resulting in an instrument that has greater depth of tone, volume and stability, as well as a substantially different appearance from the norm.

The Eppler tambura is made from only three different woods: European spruce, deeply figured European maple and African blackwood (grenadilla). African blackwood was preferred by the maker because of its superiority over ebony: it is much harder, has better dimensional stability, and does not suffer from thermal shock as ebony does.

The neck is made from laminated African blackwood (for strength, stability, and greatly increased "sustain") with a solid piece of blackwood used for the peghead. The fingerboard has twenty-four frets and is inlaid with green abalone. The finish is an oil (violin type) varnish prepared by the maker. The upper string nut is elephant ivory.

All other inlay and purfling are made of African blackwood and figured maple.