This right-handed psaltery has 30 steel strings, ranging from F4-Bb6. Constructed with a spruce soundboard on a body of lacewood. The single sound hole features an intricately carved Sheesham rosette. 

 The Bowed Psaltery is a beautiful-sounding melody instrument producing a clear and ethereal sound. The psaltery is also very easy to play.  The psaltery bow is held in the dominant hand and only one string is played at a time, being bowed between the Hitch Pins. You may choose to play your psaltery with two bows, one in each hand. With that technique, each bow plays one side of the instrument.

Playing the Psaltery may seem daunting until you understand the placement of the notes.  Look at the psaltery and you will see the Hitch Pins along one side are evenly spaced (like white keys on a piano).  On the opposite side, the Hitch Pins are arranged in groups of 3 and 2 with spaces between (like the black keys on a piano).  Bowing the evenly spaced strings plays the natural notes. Sharps and flats are played by reaching the bow over to the opposite side of the instrument.  A Right-Handed Psaltery has natural notes on the right side, and a Left-Handed Psaltery has natural notes on the left side.

The Bow must be rosined before it can play the strings.  To rosin up the bow, and rough up the surface of the new rosin, a key or nail file works well. Rosin the ends of the hairs first, in short, fast strokes, then rosin the full length from end to end.  Rotate the rosin cake under the hairs as you drag the bow across.  This rotation will maintain a flat surface and prevent a deeply grooved rosin which can damage bow hairs.  A properly rosined bow will have rosin powder evenly distributed throughout the hair.  Never handle the hair of the bow with your hands. Oils from your skin will leave permanent slick spots that will inhibit the retention of the resin powder.

Clean your bow with a soft dry cloth after each use.  Occasionally, wipe the playing area of the strings. Rosin which is allowed to accumulate too heavily, especially on the undersides of the strings, will adversely affect the tone and playability of the instrument.

Broken or loose hairs are not uncommon and will not affect the playing characteristics of the bow. If hair breaks do not pluck it out. Carefully cut the hair, leaving a little bit at both ends.

Tuning: F4 - Bb6.

Important Specifications:

Overall dimensions: 7.5" in width by 20.5" in length.
Body/Bowl: 20.5"x1.5"X7.5".
Strings at Bridge 5.5" width.
Scale Length 17.5 inches longest string.

Accessories Included:

• Psaltery Bow.
• Tuning Tool.
• Rosin.

SPECIAL NOTE ON STRINGS:

There is no warranty on strings. Manufacturers recommend that you change the strings on your instrument as soon as you receive it. Your instrument has completed a long journey before it ever begins the final leg of your home. During this time the elements affect the strings and may shorten their lifespan. It occasionally happens that a string will fail during that final leg of the journey. Therefore, it is recommended that you purchase a replacement set of strings and consider changing your strings soon after it arrives. If you are a student you may want to change your strings every 3-4 months. If you are a rock star you may need to change your strings every week. If you store your instrument, you should consider changing the strings when you pick it up again.