Identify instrument please? (Stossel Lute)

Subject: Identify instrument please?
From: pavane
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 04:56 AM

Can anyone identify this instrument, which I saw in a second hand shop on Saturday?


Pic of Instrument

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:30 AM

It's a multi string cheeselicer, refer to Les Barker, ' The Hard Cheese Of Old England '

eric

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:33 AM

It looks fascinating! Sadly, I have no idea what it is. Did you buy it?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:36 AM

Looks like a chord-harp or some form of zither. You can see from the empty bridge and pins that it's intended to have more strings on it. I also see a short fingerboard, such as zithers have. Lovely picture -

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: pavane
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:39 AM

I did wonder whether to buy it, but have no indication of what it might be worth, nor how old it was. I did pick it up and look at the left hand end where the extra strings would be fastened.

It doesn't look a particularly well made thing. Picture was just taken on my phone.

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: pavane
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:42 AM

It looks like the 7 missing strings were fretted, and the others are not. I suppose they would have been tuned to a chord.

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:46 AM

You took that photo on your phone???? Good man yerself. It's gorgeous -

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:47 AM

Or, good woman yerself. (Sorry! I'm not sure which...)

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: MudGuard
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 07:36 AM

The wide distance between the 7 (missing) strings, which seem to be the ones for playing the melody) suggests that these are played with some sort of hammer - they are too far-spread for finger-picking. The other strings (which are still there) seem to have a "drone" function (as the drones in a bagpipe, their swing is inducted (?) by the main strings.

So in my opinion it is something between a zither and a hammered dulcimer.

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: pavane
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 07:41 AM

Good man was OK! Sorry Pavane (pronounced pavan, I think) is a bit obscure.

It was originally the name of our boat (Sort of stately dance on the waves) but we used it when we needed a name for a folk duo on a visit to Italy. (Where a gentleman introduced himself as Mr Pavan)

(See picture on my site . I'm the one with the melodeon).

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: pavane
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 07:42 AM

Sorry, forgot to say click the MUSIC link.

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: the button
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 07:49 AM

Not sure about the thing at the front, but the thing at the back is definitely an early baroque shaky egg.

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: GUEST,Davetnova
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:07 AM

It's a Stossel Lute, see one for sale here- Stossel Lute

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:14 AM

Well, well.

And here's how to tune and play it.

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: pavane
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:21 AM

That's definitely it!
So probably worth offering him eu100 and see what he says.
But I can't get back there for two weeks. SO will have to wait and see.

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:24 AM

Be damned! I was going to guess harp guitar a la Stephen Bennett. But it's not, huh?

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:25 AM

You can get everything you want at the mad Mudcat Café...

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: pavane
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:29 AM

(Just don't tell Alice)

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:35 AM

This is why I fell in love with this place all those years ago. In under 5 hours you find out what it is and how to play it. Davetnova and Diane Easby, thanks for wonderful work. Shows you really love the music, and like to help folks. Great stuff!!

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: pavane
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:40 AM

Yes, thank you both very much.

Neil

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 01:00 AM

"The wide distance between the 7 (missing) strings, which seem to be the ones for playing the melody) suggests that these are played with some sort of hammer - they are too far-spread for finger-picking"

Haha! That wold make sense - except the page that mentions the instrument itself clearly show an unusual way (relative to other plucked stringed instruments) of stopping the strings. Well it was a good attempt - but also a good lesson, as often life turns around and bites even the most experienced of us on the bum.... :-)

I am interested as the reach of the frets is just enough for an average person to handle!

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 03:53 AM

Interesting to note the use on the associated website of the expression "folksong", apparently correctly.

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please? (Stossel Lute)
From: pavane
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 07:58 AM

I went back and had another look at the instrument, but decided not to buy it (at Eu60) because the back was damaged, probably irreparably, and the only use would have been as a decoration.

If anyone wants it themselves , let me know and I will tell them where to find it (in Trier, Germany) .

Subject: RE: Identify instrument please? (Stossel Lute)
From: GUEST,McCrady
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 03:24 PM

The "Miner" reference is the best place to start. The German, just-pre-Hitler history is fascinating - a man with a truly unique musical idea born in the wrong time and place. Read the translated article!