Ringing Strings Bowed Psalteries
handcrafted by Rick Long
Clinton, Tennessee
(865) 660-4026 ricklong@ringingstrings.com
Photo by Robert Batey
Please use the word psaltery in the subject of your e-mail.
Baritone Bowed Psaltery
Two and One Half Octave
Starts at G2 thats "G" two octaves below middle "C" on the piano and goes up to C5 for the highest pitch, thats "C" one octave above middle "C"
The dimensions are 33" long, 7" wide at the base, and 2 and 3/4" thick.
There are thirty strings on these baritone bowed psalteries. The strings are .030 and .026 and .023 bronze wound guitar strings. Because of the size of this psaltery it is easiest to play with it mounted to a camera tripod, which is included. The quick release mount on the tripod allows you to quickly take the psaltery off and place in the case. The mount is small enough to leave attached to the back and still fit in the case. The brass insert is installed in a separate back which allows the wood on the back to vibrate adding to the quality of the sound. The two included bows are 1/16th size violin bows. The large flat surface of these bows really brings out the full sound of the baritone psalteries. Playing using two bows is great fun allowing you to add your own harmony part. This bowed psaltery is large enough to lay across your lap and pluck the strings for a different sound.
The price includes the tripod, well padded cordura case, two bows, rosin, tuning wrench, and extra strings and an instructional dvd.
This is the case that is included with all baritone bowed psalteries. It is a well padded case with a large pocket on the front to carry the tripod. On the back are two zippered pockets to carry your bows and accessories you need.
Updated 5-22-08
Both of the baritone psalteries are sold. I'll leave the pictures and soundclips up until I get more built.
If you are interested in a baritone psaltery, send me an email and I will give you an advance notice when I'll have another available.
The photographs and info are listed below.
There are several sound clips of each instrument to let you hear how they sound in the various ways they can be played.
Beautiful piece of quilted maple from the Northwest US
Black walnut back plate with a thin quartersawn redwood rear soundboard under that.
This is a beauty and has a great tone.
This baritone bowed psaltery is $1050.00
Click on each title below to hear this psaltery being played -
Sold
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This shows how the baritone attaches to the tripod plate and tripod. The felt pads you see couver the screw heads that hold the psaltery to the plate only around the outside edges. This way the actual back of the instrument is free to vibrate, it's a thin piece of quartersawn redwood.
The design around the soundhole is a pyrographic engraving done by hand
Another closeup of that
beautiful quilted maple.
It glows!
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This baritone has a wormy american chestnut soundboard that is briming with character. The chestnut board this was made from came was salvaged from an old barn in the Asheville, NC area. The body and back plate are made from american cherry with a thin quartersawn redwood rear soundboard under that.
This baritone bowed psaltery is $950.00
SOLD
This baritone psaltery has sold. I will have another one made from the same woods ready soon.
Click on each title below to hear this psaltery being played -
Again this psaltery has a pyrographic engraving, done by hand, surrounding the sound hole
Click this photo for a larger picture to see the character of this piece of chestnut
This is how the quick release attachment goes on to mount the psaltery to the tripod.
This is a close up of a nail hole in the chestnut. I try to highlight things like this in my work as I feel it brings a lot of interest to the history of the materials the psaltery was built from.
These are the tuning pins
Click this photo for a larger picture to see more detail
Click this photo for a larger picture to see more detail
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