Republic of Bulgaria
Handcrafted by Yordan Vasilev Dimov

Woods, metal
ca.  Late 20th century
Length: 25.5 in, Width: 7.75 in, Depth: 3.25 in, Bow length: 24.75 in
Lutes – Violin Family – Folk Fiddle

The gadulka (alternate spellings: “gǎdulka”, “gudulka” and “g’dulka”), is a traditional Bulgarian type bowed fiddle that is played vertically, either resting on the knee or held by a sling around the neck. Its name comes from a root meaning “to make noise, hum or buzz”.  To allow for smooth sliding between notes, the strings are stopped with the fingertips or back of the fingernails, as there is no fingerboard. The three melody strings on top are tuned to A-E-A (la-mi-la) and the 10 sympathetic strings (“podglasnici”) under the melody strings are tuned chromatically between A and E.  This is typical of the Bulgarian Trakia Gadulka.

The strings are lifted over the resonant plate by the bridge, called “donkey”, that is made of hinap / Zizyphus jujuba mill.  The tailpiece itself is metal and there is a small wooden peg that is stained dark like the bridge for the sympathetic strings and the center strings to thread through. The two square sound holes on either side of the bridge are called oche (eyes).

This gadulka has a matching light-stained bow made of hornbeam/Carpinus betulus with darker marbled horsehair. The instrument and bow came in a fitted soft black leather case.