Help me find out what this instrument is

Subject: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 11:34 PM

Hey,

We were playing a house concert this weekend for some long time fans and friends. One friend had been to Thailand and brought back gifts for Margaret, Kate, and me. She gave me a two stringed bowed instrument that seems to be made of a coconut shell, with holes drilled in the bottom. There's a stick, up to two tuning pegs. I think I need to put a bridge on it. It looks a lot like the Chinese erhu (arho? my aplogies for probably terribly misspelling the word). I know the bow needs some rosin and I think the notes are supposed to be made by stopping the string vibrations in the air, not on the stick. My friend did not know the name of the instrument.

My other question would be whether it was your opinion that this was something to hang on the wall for the tourists, or whether I might be able to play something on it? Would I be better off putting nylong/gut strings on it, rather then the steel wires it currently has? I guess size wise it's a bit under two feet long. The bow is really cool and I can use it on my bowed psaltery, if nothing else. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks. Phil

Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: masato sakurai
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 12:13 AM

I might be wrong, but I guess it's saw-u. Another candidate is saw-dua-ng. "Saw samsai" is a bowed instrument too, which according to the pictures has three strings (Click HERE & HERE.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 12:42 AM

What wonderful gifts! Those links are great, Masato. I love the sound of the saw sam sai!

Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: masato sakurai
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 03:03 AM

Bowed "sa law" (or "salaw") has two strings (Click here for the photo).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 01:56 PM

Dear Masato,

Thanks for the links and information. It seems closest to the salaw.

Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: mack/misophist
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 03:46 PM

Did you notice the bow hand position for the sa law? It's just like a rebec.

Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: masato sakurai
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 09:25 AM

The side view of the sa-law.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 03:50 PM

Yup, it sure looks like the Sa-Law from the side. Again, thanks for the information. I need to rosin up the bow and see if I can get it to sound like something.