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| Soprano and Alto with Star style soundhole | Alto with Comet style soundhole | ||||||
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Standard Chromatic |
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| This hand-held triangular shaped melody instrument is played with a bow. Extremely easy to play, the psaltery's haunting, ethereal tone is used effectively with chordal instruments or in solo playing. The standard psaltery is fully chromatic, set up like a piano with the white notes to the right and the sharps and flats to the left.
If you have broadband click on the above link to get the 6 min video. If you can't get it to play
try another browser. I know it works in Firefox. To change the size and resolution, click on the bottom right arrow of the playback window. Pick the one you like. Thanks for watching. Note: for those of you with dial-up you may want to access the short audio clip of me playing. The instrument is tuned with zither pins and a tuning wrench. Included with your psaltery are a 17" long maple horsehair bow, tuning wrench, rosin, extra strings, and an Owner's Manual. There are markers embedded in the instrument for the Cs and for the Gs to help you find your way. Left hand instruments are available at no extra charge but must be ordered as I don't have them on hand. In a left handed instrument the white keys of the psaltery are on the left side of the instrument, black keys on the right. My instruments are constructed entirely of solid wood. The soundboards are of thin tone woods such as Spruce, Redwood or Cedar. The backs are equally thin making my instruments quite responsive. The pin blocks are of hard Maple and joinery between frame and pin block is such that it will never come apart. Two Different Sizes: The fuller sounding Alto has the same range as the Soprano plus an additional 1/2 octave going down to a C (32 strings). The Alto's size is 26" x 9" x 1 3/4" and is 3 lbs. If you are purchasing the instrument for young children, I recommend the Soprano because of its smaller size and lightness. |
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This is how the instrument is played. You draw the bow along the right side of the instrument for the 'white keys of the piano' bowing between the posts. The sharps and flats are on the left side of the instrument. You would tilt the bow to play those accidentals; 'the black keys'. As you look at the instrument from the right side it has the same layout as a piano keyboard. Bowing is done in an up and down motion playing only one tone at a time. It is a primarily a melody instrument although there are players who play with two bows allowing some chords. The instrument must be self supported to accomplish this feat. The technique of using two bows is described in the instructional video I offer. The range for a Soprano is 2 octaves; for the Alto 2 1/2 octaves. Sound Sample (need Quicktime). |
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Prices:Soprano (2 octaves (G-G)................$180 Included with your psaltery are a horsehair bow, tuning wrench, rosin, extra strings, and an Owner's Manual. For the base price you have your choice of Walnut or Cherry back and sides with the choice of Redwood or Spruce soundboard on the Sopranos. Alto Bowed Psalteries all have either Redwood or occasionally Cedar soundboards. I sometimes have Alto Psalteries with different woods like Curly or Birdseye Maple or exotic woods on the sides (see photos below). These instruments would have Cherry or Mahogany backs and Redwood soundboards. Check current stock to see what I have in this category that is immediately available. |
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| Cherry back, Redwood Soundboard with Birdseye Maple sides | Cherry back, Redwood Soundboard with Curly Maple sides | ||||||
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If you'd like to have me build an instrument with exactly the woods you'd like, please review the wood possibilities and send me your request. Custom designs often don't cost more but you will have to wait 2-3 weeks to get your psaltery. I'll get back to you with a quote. I also can do custom soundholes in these instruments which like my hammered dulcimer soundholes will add a minimum of $75 to the cost of the instrument. I now offer an internal pickup as well. |
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| Curly Maple sides, Redwood Soundboard, Mahogany back with a Custom soundhole design | Custom soundhole design with Mahogany rim | ||||||
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Accessories (click to visit page):
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