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Posted by thecowpokepicker on Wednesday, December 15, 2010
I have seen this odd instrument and was wondering what it was..
It is about 23 inches long, has three strings, and oddly, sound holes in the back.
It resembles a miniture dobro... with the exeption that it has a snakeskin head.
It has a brand on the headstock, but it is in Chinese.
I have absolutely no clue as to what it is... Any guesses?
5 comments on “What is this foreign instrument?”
Bubbysaar Says:
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 @3:09:47 PM
looks like it may be some kind of baleleka
Bubbysaar Says:
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 @3:10:20 PM
that snake skin is cool though haha
Gcapo2A Says:
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 @3:55:52 PM
They are Chinese symbols but the bottom left one looks Japanese. If it is Japanese then it might be a shamasen - a traditional Japanese banjo guitar.
thecowpokepicker Says:
Thursday, December 16, 2010 @6:41:43 AM
It's only twenty three inches long... isn't that a bit small for a shasamen?
The snakeskin is a bit convincing, though.
Gcapo2A Says:
Thursday, December 16, 2010 @3:40:47 PM
A shamasen or shamisen would not normally have frets but it might be a novelty.
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