Armenian Kamani | Walnut
Presentation
Designed by luthier Andranik Sadoev, this Armenian Kamani, also known as the Pontic kemenche, follows the traditional construction of the instrument. It is intended for beginner and intermediate musicians and, with its simple finishes, offers a reliable and affordable instrument for regular practice. The instrument has four plain steel strings and covers a range of two octaves and a sixth, from H3 (B3) to G6. Its narrow apricot soundbox, pierced with two f-holes and edged with inlaid purfling, is closed by a wooden soundboard, and its pegbox ends in a carved head. It comes with a bow.
Specifications
The instrument
-
Strings:
- String 1: Plain steel
- String 2: Plain steel
- String 3: Plain steel
- String 4: Plain steel
- Tuning pegs: 4
- Tuning: ...
-
Range (natural tuning):
- From H3 (B3) to G6
- Two octaves and a sixth
- Reference pitch: A = 440 Hz
- String length (nut to bridge): ...
- Level: Beginner to intermediate
- Soundboard: Wood
- Sound holes: F-shaped
- Finish: Polished, clear varnish (light oak look)
- Country of manufacture: Armenia
- Signature: Maker’s label glued inside the soundbox
Decoration
- Mother-of-pearl inlays: ...
- Moldings: ...
- Inlaid purfling: Yes, black and light
- Carved head: Yes
The bow
- Stick: Rosewood
- Hair: Natural horsehair
- Frog: Light metal
- Length: 65 cm
Materials and dimensions
-
Woods:
- Soundbox: Apricot
- Soundboard: ...
- Neck: Boxwood
- Fingerboard: ...
- Tuning pegs: Apricot
- Bridge: Boxwood
-
Other materials:
- Strings: Plain steel
- Tailpiece: Wood
- Spike: Wood
- Fine tuners: ...
-
Dimensions:
- Total length (including spike): 60 cm
- Soundbox width: 10 cm
- Soundbox depth: ...
-
Weight:
- Without case: 0.8 kg
- With gig bag: 1.8 kg
Included with the instrument
The Kamani comes with a gig bag fitted to its dimensions (weight: 1 kg) and a bow. Learn more about the Kamani, its musicians and its musical world on our dedicated page.
Quality control by Gusan Instruments
Every Kamani is made in Armenia using traditional lutherie methods. As with any instrument from a traditional workshop, it may show particularities inherent to manual work and differ slightly from the photos (wood grain, color, inlay work), as explained in our guide to choosing your Kamani.
Before shipping, every instrument undergoes a quality inspection by Gusan Instruments, adapted to its type. For the Kamani, we check the stability of the tuning pegs, the bridge adjustment, the tension and straightness of the bow, the absence of unwanted sounds, and the overall build quality and assembly of the instrument.
Each maker, workshop and range has its own manufacturing standards and specific characteristics. Gusan Instruments is not involved in the makers’ production: we act as an independent expert in evaluating and selecting the instruments we offer. The ratings below, established independently, apply to this model.
Overall sound: ★★★★☆
Tuning peg stability: ★★★★★
Soundboard quality: ★★★★☆
Decoration quality: ...
Bow quality: ...
Finish quality: ★★★★☆
About the maker
Andranik Sadoev is a luthier from the Assyrian community of Armenia. For more than forty-five years, he has run an instrument-making workshop with his brother, Misha Sadoev, where Misha makes all kinds of wind instruments and Andranik the full range of Armenian string instruments. Reliable and affordable, with simple finishes, their instruments are particularly appreciated by musicians who are starting out or progressing.
Presentation video
- Worldwide shipping
Every order placed on gusaninstruments.com is shipped from our premises in Armenia. Delivery takes an average of 5 to 15 business days.
For customers in Europe, some models may also be available through our partner store La Maison du Duduk, whose stock is based in France, with an estimated delivery time of 2 to 5 business days.
Depending on the model, ordering through maisonduduk.com may offer faster delivery and simpler shipping. We invite you to visit their website to check instrument availability.
For more details, please see our Shipping Policy.
All purchases are eligible for return or exchange, in accordance with the applicable terms. If you have any doubt, question or difficulty after receiving your instrument, our customer service team is available to assist you and will review your request carefully.
Each situation is reviewed individually, with the aim of offering you the most suitable solution: exchange, return or personalized assistance.
For more details, please see our Return, Exchange and Refund Policy.
Like all instruments from traditional lutherie, your instrument is a living object that may evolve over time depending on its use, its environment and its care. Improper storage, incorrect use or unsuitable transport may cause alterations to the instrument.
Gusan Instruments does not offer an additional commercial warranty on this instrument. In accordance with applicable regulations, the 14-day legal withdrawal period applies should you wish to return the instrument after receipt.
Beyond this period, your purchase remains covered by the legal guarantees that apply to any professional seller: the legal guarantee of conformity, which applies for two years from the delivery of the instrument, and the legal guarantee against hidden defects, which applies for two years from the discovery of the defect. These guarantees cover lack of conformity and hidden defects that make the instrument unfit for its intended use, and are exercised directly with Gusan Instruments as the seller.
For any question or difficulty after receiving your instrument, our customer service team is available to review your request carefully. Each situation is reviewed individually, with the aim of offering you the most suitable solution.
For more details, please see our Return, Exchange and Refund Policy.
Our instruments are shipped directly from Armenia. Shipping costs are calculated based on this point of origin, as well as the destination and the delivery method selected.
Depending on the destination country, customs duties, import taxes or additional fees may apply upon receipt of the parcel, in accordance with the regulations in force in the recipient’s country. These fees are not included in the displayed price and remain the customer’s responsibility.
We invite you to check with the customs authorities of your country before ordering, to find out about any fees that may apply to importing a musical instrument from Armenia.
