Rating of the best domras for 2024

The selection of a specific domra model is primarily due to the level of the performer's skill. Today it will not be difficult to decide where to buy an instrument - this product can be ordered online or purchased at a regular music store. Before choosing the most suitable one, it should be borne in mind that there are about ten varieties. In addition, tools differ in the quality of the material of manufacture and cost. The rating of the best domras for 2024 will help with choosing the right tool.

What is domra

This is an ancient musical instrument that belongs to the string-plucked group. Has three or four strings. The domra is still played by Kalmyks, Tatars and Kirghiz. She has an expressive musical potential. Used for academic performances.

The external description of the construction of the domra can be described as a neck with pegs connected to a wooden body. The strings are fixed at the bottom and extend to the tuning pegs.

Origin of the word

Many researchers misinterpret the name of the species in question. Very often the traditional Kazakh dombra is called this way. However, it should be noted that both of these names originated from a Turkic root. The root of the word has survived to this day in a number of Russian-speaking surnames.

History of origin

For the first time domra is mentioned in Russian ancient palace records and in popular prints. The performer was called a domrache. The time of the appearance of this instrument in Russia is not known for certain. Almost no images of ancient Russian domras have survived to this day. The first mention in sources refers to the 16th century. In that era in Russia, they were already quite common. They were used to accompany works of folk epic, epic genre, legends, as well as to maintain the melodic line in folk songwriting.

The royal court had its own "Amusement Chamber" - a musical and entertainment group, consisting of buffoons. Domrachei and buffoons were very popular among the people. They performed songs of acute social themes at all sorts of solemn events, festivals and festivities. Musicians could be heard in the market square, in a peasant's hut or inside the royal chamber. Historical sources confirm that Tsar Ivan Vasilievich the Terrible was a special fan of lavish feasts with the participation of entertainment musicians.

According to some researchers, at that time this type of strings was already classified into ensemble varieties. For example, the smallest one was called "domrishka", and the largest with a low sound was called "bassist".

Manufacturing technology in the Middle Ages

Old Russian domras were made using a handicraft method. The production was well-organized - plucked string was supplied to the court and to Siberia. This fact is confirmed by historical documents.

The manufacturing technology can be called relatively simple. A solid piece of wood, after giving it the required shape, served as a body. A stick-neck was attached to it, on which strings or veins of animals were stretched. To extract the sound, how it differs from the balalaika, a sliver, feather or fish bone was used.

Extermination period

1648 - the date of publication of the decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich on the mass extermination of musical instruments. The official pretext is the presence of criticism of the current government in the lyrics. According to the notes of Adam Olearius, a German traveler, all instrumental music was banned. Whole loaded carts were taken out across the Moskva River and burned. The persecution extended to musicians and buffoonery as a craft. The profession of a wandering entertainer was considered unseemly for a decent person. The period of oblivion lasted for about two centuries.

Revival

The main initiator of the development of a new design based on the instrument found on the territory of the Vyatka province is Vasily Vasilyevich Andreev. The date of discovery of what it is for such an unusual find is 1896. The creation of the structure, which we know today, was carried out jointly with the famous violin maker Nalimov.

An external overview of the distinguishing features of how it differs from the mandolin and other plucked plucked ones, which have become characteristic to this day as a result of reconstruction:

• hemispherical body shape;
• medium-long neck;
• three strings;
• quart scale.

1890s - the date of the construction of the ensemble varieties of this group of string-plucked. During the first decades after the revival, development proceeded mainly in the field of orchestral and ensemble performance.

1908 - in order to expand the range, a four-string domra with a quint tuning was created. Despite the advantage of the range sound, it was weaker than the three-string version in terms of timbre and color.

1945 - the date of the creation of the first instrumental concert with a guide on how to learn to play, accompanied by an orchestra of Russian folk instruments.

Two versions of origin

To date, the following versions of the origin are known.

The first is a reference to eastern roots, due to the similarity with the instruments of the countries of the East. It is about the construction and the method by which the sound is produced. Among these tools, you can name which are the most similar in shape:

• Turkish Baglama;
• Kazakh dombra;
• Tajik rubab.

Interesting Facts. It is believed that all of the above types of strings originated from the eastern tanbur. Historians believe that they brought it during the Tatar-Mongol yoke. According to another version, this happened in the process of forming trade relations with states in the East.

It is also believed that the lineage of this type of string starts from the European lute. It is known that during the Middle Ages, any type of string-plucked string, which had a body, neck and strings, was considered a lute. The ancestor of the lute is the Arabic al-ud.

Varieties

There are a number of types of domras:

• piccolo;
• small;
• alto;
• tenor;
• mezzo soprano;
• bass;
• double bass.

Device

Components of a small domra:

• body;
• neck;
• head.

Hardwoods are used as material for the neck. The area under the strings with an overlay is made of ebony. The so-called "shell" is required in order to protect against accidental external influences during the game. The resonator part is usually made of maple or spruce. The components of the body are the upper part and the body. Also, the design contains sills and a stand that ensures the contact of the strings with the wood. One of the main external differences of this class of plucked string is the socket.

Game technique

Unlike balalaika, which is produced by rattling the whole hand, the method of playing is to extract each individual sound. For this purpose, a mediator is used. It should also be noted that the playing technique is different from that of the guitar.

Selection recommendations

When choosing which one is better to buy a company, focusing on your own selection criteria, you should consider the following universal tips:

• first of all, you should focus on the beauty of the sound;
• along the entire length of the neck, the timbre should be even;
• a quality instrument is characterized by the absence of extraneous sounds;
• a prerequisite is the direct location of the neck;
• you should pay attention to how long the sound is;
• crackling and ringing should also be absent at every fret;
• you need to make sure that the game will be audible enough for a large room.

The best domras for 2024

DOFF DPS

Small domra of the classical type with three strings. Seven rivets. The body is made of maple wood. The instrument is very artistic. The neck is made of mahogany red wood. A radial cut spruce is used for the deck. The hinged shell is made of plastic. The recessed socket is also made of fine wood. Rosewood fingerboard. Easy and precise tuning is provided by smooth rotation of the tuning machine. Each tool is created by skilled craftsmen. Twenty-four frets. Natural body shade. You can play using a pick. The cost of domra in 2024 is just over 12,000 rubles.

• high-quality equipment;
• decoration of the case;
• ease and accuracy of setting;
• budget for the price;
• domras are created by skilled craftsmen.

• not found.

MUZPROM "LUX"

Handmade domra. A special set of materials for its assembly, which have passed ten years of aging. The construction contains ebony details - neck, fingerboard and carapace. The deck is made of two halves, similar to the construction of a violin. The body is made from excellent rosewood, Bosnian maple and Alpine spruce. The deck material is resonant spruce. Domra length is 635 millimeters. The body is 240 millimeters wide, 260 millimeters long, and 120 millimeters high. Impeccable workmanship. Decorating with natural mother-of-pearl intarsia. Three strings. Another thing to pay attention to - the number of frets is twenty-six instead of twenty-four. Concert destination. The price in the online store in 2024 is about 130,000 rubles.

• the best craftsmen guaranteeing high quality hand-made assembly;
• decoration with natural mother-of-pearl;
• for professional performances;
• material of ten years old is used;
• excellent wood quality.

• high price.

Hora M1084-3

Three-string domra prima for beginners. Maple body and neck. The deck is made of solid Carpathian spruce. With inlaid rosette. The carapace with stand is made of black spruce. Nickel-plated tuning mechanism. Domra is 63 centimeters long. The body is 14 centimeters high and 29 centimeters wide. The musical instrument weighs 900 grams. Romanian production. This model costs about 17,000 rubles in 2024.

• suitable for students;
• quality wood;
• made in Romania.

• limited functionality.

Domra master three-string Bass

The case is made of sycamore maple, natural shade. Three strings. Produced at the plant, where skilled craftsmen work, whose achievements are marked with high awards. The neck materials are black wood, wenge and rosewood. All other parts are also made of hardwood. Shellac-based varnish. Blotches of mother-of-pearl. Nineteen frets. Scale - 715 millimeters, body length - 460 millimeters, width - 415 millimeters. The price is approximately 141,000 rubles.

• the best quality wood, according to buyers;
• durable shell;
• lacquered body;
• inexpensive for the price.

• not found.

MUZPROM model No. 10

The tool is assembled by hand using special materials. The wood is aged for ten years. Some parts of the domra, such as the neck and fingerboard, are made of ebony. The soundboard is made of two halves, similar to the construction of a violin. Rosewood, Bosnian maple and alpine spruce used to create the case are of excellent quality. The body length is 260 millimeters, the width is 240 millimeters, and the height is 120 millimeters. The tool has a total length of 635 millimeters. Four strings. Concert destination. The approximate average price for 2024 is a little more than 101,000 rubles.

• manual assembly;
• ten-year aging of wood;
• excellent material characteristics;
• for concerts.

• high price.

FOREST F-301

A budgetary small domra with an artistically designed seven-riveted body. The neck with a fretboard is beech, these parts are made from an array of resonant spruce radially cut. The hinged shell is made of ABS plastic. Birch and beech were chosen as the material for the body. The working length of the scale is 400 millimeters. The presence of wood veins between the rivets is due to the characteristics of a particular model. Thanks to the smooth rotation of the tuning mechanism, you can easily and accurately tune the string instrument. The cost of domra in 2024 is about 14,000 rubles.

• affordable price;
• decoration of the case;
• with fine tuning function.

• not found.

DM3-II

Craftsman three-stringed small domra made of spruce and maple. Rosewood carapace. The cover is made of ebony. Natural body color. The length of the packaged instrument is 670 millimeters, the width is 300 millimeters, and the height is 150 millimeters. Domra weighs just over one kilogram. Domestic production. The price of the instrument is about 51 thousand rubles.

• Russian production;
• a light weight;
• the body has a natural color;
• workshop assembly.

• not found.

DOFF DBM

Domra bass, externally finished with glossy varnish. The neck is made of solid cedar and redwood. 7-riveted maple body with bright texture. Wooden socket. Scale from 720 to 770 millimeters long. Rosewood nut, escutcheon and stand. Three strings. The cost is about 40,000 rubles.

• glossy finish;
• large in size;
• quality wood.

• not found.

The current classification of domras on the market in 2024 is very diverse. One model can have a large number of improved modifications. To avoid mistakes when choosing, it is necessary to carefully approach the selection of the tool, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of tools from different companies. You can read reviews and recommendations on the network left by amateurs who have already tested in practice certain popular models.