If I try to describe my santouris, I would say that the old school makers' tradition, who have made extraordinary instruments for almost 5 decades (20s-60s), co-exist with the modern and of good quality materials that are available nowadays.

More specificall, I could focus of the following unique elements of my constructions:

*All of the santouris constructed at my workshop have soundboards made of solid European alpine spruce (Picea Abies) ,
which I import myself, as it is not available in Greece in this quality and dimmensions.

 

Detail from a soundboard,
approximately 20 straight grains per inch.

 

* The same goes for the bottom soundboards of the santouris.

* The soundboards have struts.

* The rails are 3ply with bleech reinforcment.

* As for the pin blocks I use multi laminated pin block which helps the particular part of the     instrument, on which a lot of pressure is pu, to endure, and results in smooth tuning.

 

Detail from pin block (cross cut).

 

Our Store.

 

* The framework is “laminated” with solid European maple or beech.
The old way of building is obvious in the next photo; the sharp angles, which the long side and the sides of the instrument form, are cut.
A wooden block is put in its place, which is then rounded off. Finally, a thin piece of wood covers the pinblocks.
(see picture below).

 

 

* The bottom soundboard is laminated with mahogany venner.

 

The bottom soundboard.

 

* The bass strings are made by me.
  I use hexagonal “Rosslau” steel and “Degen” cooper, thus achieving a  clear bass sound.

 

String making matterials.

 

* The tuning pins and the hitch pins are "Bienne" (Germany).

* The tuning hammer is starshape with long shaft for smooth and easy tuning.

 

 

* Jig bags are available at the right dimensions.

 

 

The range of my santouris are 3,5 octaves from G 98Hz up to B 987,8 Hz, which is the classic size the solists Tassos Diakogiorgis and Aristides Moschos played with.
It should be mentioned that their santouris were made by Giannis Zafeiropoulos who was incoparable.

Although I believe that the two extra bass strings the biggest size santouri offers is an unnecessery innovation,
I can add them to my construction if asked, without an extra charge.