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8 messages

Help me find out what this instrument is

22 Apr 02 - 11:34 PM (#696197)
Subject: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: Phil Cooper

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


23 Apr 02 - 12:13 AM (#696230)
Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: masato sakurai

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


23 Apr 02 - 12:42 AM (#696244)
Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: katlaughing

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


23 Apr 02 - 03:03 AM (#696295)
Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: masato sakurai

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

~Masato


23 Apr 02 - 01:56 PM (#696643)
Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: Phil Cooper

Dear Masato,

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


23 Apr 02 - 03:46 PM (#696747)
Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: mack/misophist

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


24 Apr 02 - 09:25 AM (#697404)
Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: masato sakurai

The side view of the sa-law.

~Masato


24 Apr 02 - 03:50 PM (#697699)
Subject: RE: Help me find out what this instrument is
From: Phil Cooper

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.