Roosebeck Baritone Rounded Psaltery Left-Handed
This left-handed rounded psaltery has 37 strings, ranging C3 - C6. Constructed with a spruce soundboard on a body of lacewood. The single sound hole features an intricately carved sheesham rosette. It ships with a psaltery bow, tuning tool and rosin.
The Bowed Psaltery is a beautiful sounding melody instrument producing a clear and ethereal sound. The psaltery is also a very easy to play. The psaltery bow is held in the dominate 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 the natural notes on the right side, the Left-Handed Psaltery has the natural notes are on the left side.
The Bow must be rosined before it can play the strings. To rosin up the bow, rough up the surface of the new rosin, a key or nail file works will. 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 retention of the rosin 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. The Roosebeck Microfiber Polishing Cloth is sold separately, and is perfect for cleaning the bow (item code RBSMFPI).
Broken or loose hairs are not uncommon and will not affect the playing characteristics of the bow. If a hair breaks do not to pluck it out. Carefully cut the hair, leaving a little bit at both ends.
Body/Bowl: 29.5" L X 1.5"H X 10.12" W
Strings at Bridge: 7.87" wide
Scale length: 25.75 inches
Tuning: C3 - C6
Longest String Length: 25.6"
Accessories Included:
Psaltery bow
Tuning tool
Rosin
Product codes ending in "-1(S)" or "-2(S)" are blemished. These products are new and unused with superficial blemishes that may include, blisters in the finish, scratches, dents, stains, discoloration, rust or pitting on metals, imperfect glazes, non-structural repairs such as putty in nail holes, or other surface marks.
"-1(S)" product has minor blemishes and "-2(S)" product has moderate blemishes and/or minor repairs. The irregularity does not affect the playability or sound quality of the instrument.
Product codes ending in "-3(S)" and "-4(S)" are also new and unused, but came to manufacturer needing repairs. If it's a "-3(S)," the product has been repaired, but if it's a "-4(S)," it will still require significant repairs when received by the customer.
Product codes ending in "PROP" are unable to be played and are for display purposes only.
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 to 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.
Please note:
For safety during shipping, the manufacturer don't tune the instruments before sending them to customers.