Romanian tárogatós: Worth the Risk or Not

Worth it or not?

  • Yes, if you pay a decent price

    Votes: 4 57.1%

  • No, not even for cheap

    Votes: 3 42.9%

  • Yes, even for a higher price

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No, not for a high price

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    7
PrincessJ

PrincessJ

Gheorghe and I were agreeing on how the Timis tárogatós are really hit or miss, and I hereby invite anyone with any kind of experience with these controversial instruments to vote on this.
Romanian tárogatós: Worth the risk, or not?

Mine is decent, likely one of the earlier Romanian tárogatós and likely not a Timis, but all instruments Romanian counts in this thread. I noticed an awful lot of unnamed tárogatós suspected to be the infamous Romanian post-WWII instruments that have been reported as either gems or pieces of absolute useless tree bark for nothing more than a wall ornament.
 
Once John puts the one I had together we'll know better, but from what I could tell at least the scale was half-decent. The finish is awful, the keywork pretty poor, but everything sort of works. That being said, I would personally go for an older Hungarian instrument, even two ring and one octave key. Often they cost no more than the Romanian ones.
 
You bet. Mine is believed to be Romanian by many and is an incredible instrument with a beautiful tone. If you pay under $1500 you're fine.
 
I'll have to get back to you on this question. ;) Not only will I have to get it in playing condition, but then I will have to learn to play the darn thing before I report back.
 
Does anyone know anything about these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/tárogató-...975?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2318d28c1f
 
MrDibbs said:
Does anyone know anything about these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/tárogató-...975?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2318d28c1f
Click to expand...

Mmh, white gloves... (these are normally accompanying Chinese instruments of doubtful provenience...)

I wasn't aware that they're still made new. Interesting.
 
MrDibbs said:
Does anyone know anything about these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/tárogató-...975?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2318d28c1f
Click to expand...

I don't know anything about these, but from what I see, including the video presentation, my instinct tells me they are good instruments and I would consider buying one of I didn't already have 2 instruments :)

George
 
This is produced by the same guy who sells all the used tárogatók on eBay. My guess is that it is a decent instrument, and the price is definitely OK. I would like to see the keywork more closely, and to hear the second octave.
 
tictactux said:
Mmh, white gloves... (these are normally accompanying Chinese instruments of doubtful provenience...)

I wasn't aware that they're still made new. Interesting.
Click to expand...

There are a few makers of tarogatok.

http://tárogató.hu/ Is the only one that has a proper web site. These are very fine instruments. I have played one. Their idea of Boehm system just refers to the fingering of F and F#. Other than that they are like other tarogatok.

There is also Nicolai Sava in Romania who makes one with a Boehm clarinet type keywork and another with saxophone type keywork which are excellent. I played the clarinet-like one briefly. I think he wanted 4000 euros for one.

Also Gregus Pal in Hungary and Ricardo von Vittorelli in Belgium. The Vittorellis have a patent C# like the better Albert system clarinets.

There's another one in Hungary too but I forget his name.

Here are some makers showing off their instruments in Vaja 2010. Gregus Pal speaking Nicolai Sava on the left at the back and the guy who's name I can't remember on the right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9uL7uYq6TE
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom