Since they’re fairly hard to come by outside of Russia, I sometimes get asked where to buy a domra (or strings for them).
There ARE some places you can find them online or in stores, so I wrote this guide to help you track this elusive instrument down, and what to look for before you buy.
Covered in this Article:
Domras For Sale Online: Where To Find Them
The most obvious place to look for a wide selection of domras is on Russian language internet shopping sites. The drawback in this respect (though not insurmountable) is going to be the language barrier and possible issues with customs, import duties and paperwork.
If you intend to go down this route, contact the seller first and see if they have any experience with international shipping and trading. Use one of the online currency conversion sites to convert Russian Roubles into your national currency. Bear in mind the online price is unlikely to include the cost of the shipping.
If on the other hand, you’re more conservative with your online shopping, you could pick a source that’s a little closer to home or regularly trades internationally.
Domras for Sale Online
Thomann
Thomann are an independent family run company, specializing in many niche musical instruments, and associated sound and electronic gear.
They almost always have domras in stock (plus gig bags, strings and anything else you need). They have very good customer service, including a money-back guarantee. I’d recommend them as the first point of call.
Etsy
One of the best-kept secrets in rare fretted instruments at the moment is Etsy. Lots of independent luthiers from all over the world are making quality domras and selling them on the platform. It’s a well-known site, with good seller protection.
Click here to see current domras listed on Etsy USA, and also Etsy UK.
Amazon
The online giant will sometimes offer the occasional model, usually via private sellers direct from Russia. Always worth a look. Click here to see any domras currently listed. For example, there’s this model currently for sale:
Ebay
Ebay is generally a good source of unusual fretted instruments, and domras come up regularly. I often see new and used ones, often direct from Russia or Ukraine.
You will also have a degree of protection should anything happen to your order, when using the online auction site. Click here to check out current listings for domras on Ebay USA or eBay UK.
Facebook Marketplace: A good source of used (second-hand) items that often go for very reasonable prices. Worth a look if you don’t want to commit to a new instrument.
Lark in the Morning: America’s leading folk music store often have domras in their catalog.
How Much Does a Domra Cost?
The price of domras varies a great deal, but don’t expect to pay less than around $200/£170/€220 for a new instrument and considerably more for a luthier built or top of the range model.
You may have more success in the used instrument market or from individual online sellers, who either have fewer overheads or have no concept of what they’re selling.
Bargains are there to be had, but not so much in the new instrument market. Ideally, your best bet would be to check out Russian music stores if you’re in the vicinity, but barring that, if you’re on a budget, eBay (listed above) is probably your best bet.
It’s difficult to distinguish the good from the bad with such a niche instrument, but it’s fair to say a higher priced model is likely to have been better set up and built to a higher standard than a cheaper tourist-style instrument.
Some more tips when buying a domra:
Look for solid woods such as a spruce top, maple body, and rosewood or ebony fingerboard as a good starting place. If you can, ask for a photograph of the actual instrument you’re buying, rather than a small thumbnail picture on a website. If they’re amenable, you’re probably dealing with a trustworthy seller.
Good Domra Luthiers to look out for (though there are plenty more decent ones out there!):
- Valery Grebennikov
- Khukalov
- V.V. Kostin
- Anatoly Ivanovich Makeev
- Nikolai Mukhin
- Pavlovs
- M. Saveliyev
- Evgeny Serjantov
- Fyodor Ilyich Simakov
- Valeyulin
- Zubchenko
Recommended Domra Strings (and where to buy them)
Here’s a breakdown of some of the best strings for each type of domra, and where you can buy them.
Stores that sell the strings below are: Thomann, Ebay, Amazon, or specialist Russian sites like Lutner.
Piccolo
Pyramid – 685/3 (steel/nickel set)
Solomia – 4-string (steel/copper set)
Prima
Emuzin – DP (phosphor bronze set)
Emuzin – 4DP (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Emuzin – 4DP-1 [No.1 E] (steel string)
Gospodin Muzikant– DP28F (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Gospodin Muzikant – DM29F (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Gospodin Muzikant – DM-30 (steel/brass 80/20 set)
Gospodin Muzikant – DM-30F (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Moser – DM1 (bronze 80/20 set)
Moser – DM2 (phosphor bronze set)
Moser – DM3 (phosphor bronze/silk set)
Pyramid – 686/3 (steel/nickel set)
Avzhezh – 4-string (phosphor bronze/tin-plated high carbon steel)
Dogal D117 – 4-string (steel/silk/bronze set)
Solomia – 4-string (steel/copper set)
Mezzo-Soprano
Pyramid – 687/3 (steel/nickel set)
Alto
DA-Fedosov – (brass set)
Emuzin – (phosphor bronze set)
Emuzin – 4DA (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Gospodin Muzikant DA-4/80 (steel/brass set)
Gospodin Muzikant DA62 (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Gospodin Muzikant DA64 (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Moser – (bronze set)
Moser – DA2.1 (phosphor bronze set)
Moser – DA2.2 (phosphor bronze set)
Moser – DA3 (phosphor bronze/silk set)
Pyramid – 688/3 (steel/nickel set)
Tenor
DT-Fedosov – Tenor (brass set)
Emuzin – 4DT (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Pyramid – 689/3 (steel/nickel set)
Solomia – 4-string (steel/copper set)
Bass / Contra-Bass
Emuzin – 4DB (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Gospodin Muzikant – DB6 (steel/phosphor bronze set)
Gospodin Muzikant– DB9S (syntal/copper set)
Moser – DB1 (bronze set)
Moser – DB2 (phosphor bronze set)
Pyramid – 691/3 (steel/nickel set)
Solomia – 4-string (steel/copper set)
I hope this sets you on the way to both finding, stringing and playing the domra. Once it’s in your hands, don’t forget to check out my domra tuning and chords guide, and also a bit of domra history, too!
