The story of Bouzouki Μπουζουκι
Bouzouki is the evolution of Pandura Πανδουρα
it was considered a cheap organ at ancient world,
Probably came from East mybe more east than Phrygia, from Iran
Hesychius says that came to Greece by Lydians,
yet we find such organs much before 4rth century when it took its form in Greece.
and is based on 3 strings Orphic instruments
until King Phillip B of Makedonia made it basic at night drinking fiestas
a pandura
Tambouras Thambourin Ταμπουρας Θαμπουριν
Greeks evolute Pandura to Tambouras, and until late Byzantine empire was in many folklore fairs and even the palaces
Bouzouki Μπουζουκι
Tambouras Travel East to Iran Turks and Arabs,
became a favorite organ of Islamic world,
and evolute to Bouzouki with 3 pair strings
Return back to Greece but was considered a cheap low class and hemp smokers organ.
there were times that bouzouki was synonym of a bad casta, criminality, low IQ etc etc, drunken behavour etc
MODERn BOUZOUKI
Greeks especially from minor Asia loved bouzouki and slowly made it national organ at the times of 1950's
Great players and composers made hits or great sympjonies upon bouzouki,
my personal best performer is
Lemonopoulos,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azB_4YaDjxg
another great performer is
Dimitris Stergiou Μπεμπης
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDrZQZhFq9E
both above had classical music studies so they gave bouzouki a European colour.
the third great performer
Χιωτης Chiotis
was influenced by swing and mambo,
that was the alternative music, an imported wave to Greece at 1960's
so he decided to make bouzouki more fast and more complex,
he asked from organ makers to add a 4rth double string,
From that time Bouzouki reached its highest road ever,
became unbelievable, and very favorite, until the time of electric quitar.
So Greeks Chiotis and brother Panagis evolute Bouzouki to modern Bouzouki
Χιωτης Chiotis plays modern Greek Bouzouki
PS
Jimi Hendrix was fan of bouzouki
the myth says he came many times to Athens to hear Chiotis
and he was present in many big concerts of bouzouki perfformers at USA