Bowed Psalteries

The instrument is tuned with zither pins and a tuning wrench. Included with your psaltery are a 15" long horsehair bow, a small gooseneck tuning wrench, rosin and an owner's manual.  If you are interested in my Classic Alto, you may specify my 17" bow. My smaller lighter 15” bow is more suitable for the tighter string spacing of my wound string Alto and Baritone bowed psalteries and works better for playing with two bows. 

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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 usually  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.

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My instruments are constructed entirely of solid wood; no plywood. The soundboards of choice are thin quarter-sawn tone woods such as Spruce, Redwood or Cedar. These woods give the instrument a warmer more mellow sound. The backs are equally thin making my instruments quite responsive. Hardwoods can be used for soundboards but it will make the instrument brighter. The pin blocks are of hard Maple and joinery between frame and pin block is such that they will never come apart.

 

Five Different Sizes:

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• My new Altos have the range of 2 1/2 octaves going from C6 to G3 (30 strings).  I offer this model with two pin spacings 3/4” and 7/8”. There is gradually increasing space between the pins on the lower notes.  The 3/4” pin spacing is closer together so you get the range of 2 1/2 octaves in a smaller instrument.  The 7/8” gives you are larger bowed psaltery; about the same size as my Classic Alto.  The body size and weight of the 3/4” model is 22 1/2” X 8” X 2” 2 1/2 lbs; the 7/8” model is 24” X 9” X 2” and about 3 lbs. The range of C6 - G3  gives you more bass notes instead of the less used higher pitches of the Classic Alto. If you are purchasing the instrument for a young child, I recommend the Alto with 3/4” string spacing because of its smaller size and lightness.  
   

• My Baritones are my largest Bowed Psalteries with a range of 3 octaves going from C6-C3 (37 strings). I now offer this psaltery with either 3/4” or 7/8" pin spacing. As with the Alto there is additional space between the pins on the lower notes.  The body dimensions are 27" X 10” X 2 3/8” for the 3/4” string spacing and 30" X 11" X 2 3/8" for the 7/8"spacing.  Weight for either is about 4 lbs.  If you want those lower tones, the Baritone is the one to get but be aware of its increased size and weight. If you aspire to use two bows to play your psaltery, either the 3/4” or 7/8” string spacing will work. You'll just need to purchase an extra bow.    I currently only build Baritones to order.
   

• My Classic Altos have the range of 2 1/2 octaves going from G6-C4 (32 strings) which is different from my new Altos which go lower (from C6 to G3 (30 strings).  The Classic Alto has 1" pin spacing even throughout.  It is about the same size as my new Alto with the 7/8" string spacing but instead of wound strings it has three sizes of steel strings which gives it a more ethereal quality.  You can hear what a Classic Alto sounds like by watching the Introduction to the Bowed Psaltery video shown above. The actual size is 26" x 9 1/2" x 2" weighing approximately 3 lbs. This size psaltery is quite comfortable to play given your average arm length. 

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