Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on February 4, 2012 at 12:11pm

That looks very similar to a ukelin. There is tons of information on ukelins all over the web.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Stephen Eklund on February 4, 2012 at 1:51pm

Thanks Dan Sleep!!! Did a search for ukelin and fould an article from the Smithsonian stating that a ukelin was sometimes named differently. One of the names is banjolin. And they were played with a bow!! Also have a round a bout date for it. Sometime between 1926 to 1965. 

link to artical

ukelin

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on February 4, 2012 at 2:55pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowed_psaltery

I believe your instrument is based on this instrument.

www.elderly.com is a great music store. If you email them, they may be able to assist you with strings.

Enjoy, Keni Lee 

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 5, 2012 at 2:26am

Paul,

 

Here ya go:

 

http://www.fretlesszithers.com/bowed.html#ruk

 

Look down the page, under guitar-olin / banjolin. Very similar layout to yours, indeed, played with a bow, and as KLB sez based on the medieval bowed psaltery.

 

Also, here is one with a little more info:

 

http://www.fretlesszithers.net/heiser.htm

 

Yours is probably a Heiser, based on the pic at the bottom of the page, next to the two unidentifieds. 

 

And this ad page from April 1927 references Mr. Heiser demonstrating the "Solo-lin" in Fayetteville, Arkansas; sez his factory had only been open for 4 months at the time:

 

http://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1927-84-14/MTR-1927-84-14-31.pdf

 

 So yours has to be from at oldest 1927, but more likely sometime in the 30's. Prices on these from eBay are running anywhere from $150 - $350

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 5, 2012 at 2:27am

Paul,

 

Oops...you wanted to know where to get strings for yours. Try www.fretlesszithers.com as a primary source; they have a lot of info on restringing.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on February 5, 2012 at 5:59am

I am not even going to ask....

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 5, 2012 at 6:06am

Dan,

No secret message.

Weirdness with my keyboard - kept hitting an F key accidentally. Doofus. Eejot. Fumble fingered frasnaram.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on February 5, 2012 at 6:09am

You know you can delete those posts, right? There is a really faint white X in the upper right hand corner, which is almost invisible.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 5, 2012 at 6:59am

Which would explain why I can't see it...

Anyhoo, thanks for the steer; I'll try to be more careful. OK, cleaned up my mess.

Next?

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Permalink Reply by pete linch on February 5, 2012 at 3:15am

Paul, its played with a short Bow on the left and right sides close to the anchor pins. I have had one like it.

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Permalink Reply by pete linch on February 5, 2012 at 3:18am

You can locate a suitable Bow on E-'ay used for playing a psaltery. Very reasonable priced, nice quality.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Stephen Eklund on February 5, 2012 at 4:15pm

Thanks again for all the help and info folks. And Thanks for the link on restringing Oily "Strat-O'-Nine-Tales" Fool. Be a bit before I can play with this. Needs some work done on most of the tuners. Not turning. Some keys are slipping and others aren't turning at all. There's a guy in the town next to me that makes mandolins and dulcimers. Hopefully he can help. 

Pete Linch, I have the original bow, leather case and tuner key. The bow needs to be restrung. 

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