9-stringed kantele

$330

(sold out, but you can order an instrument with a similar look)
(this one travels to Tolyatti, Russia)

Contact the maker and order an instrument

Kantele is the most widespread type of gusli without a wing for Finland and Karelia. The Estonian hollowed kannel has a lot in common with old hollowed Finnish kanteles. Kurzeme kokle, Zhemaitian and Aukshаitian kankles are very related instruments with kantele as well. But the instrument on photo is a kantele exactly. There are typical traditional kantele ponsi (a beak-shaped ending of the instrument in the stringholder area), ponnen lovi (the staple of the stringholder of a rounded shape) and kierukka (a decorative curl) are consciously made here.

Body: alder.
Alder, as well as spruce and pine, is the most traditional material for gusli bodies of all kinds. Gusli with alder bodies are timbre/loudness ballanced. These instruments are strong and trouble-free.
Coating: wood stain and waxing.

Soundboard: spruce.
Spruce is the most tratidion wood for soundboards. The correct selection of musical qualities of a specific soundboard made from spruce and adherence to technology when glued — allows the instrument to expand timbre, adds warmth to the sound. And also the loudness of the instrument directly depends on a good soundboard.

Pegs: pearwood.
Pearwood is an ideal material for pegs. Pear is a very hard wood, but at the same time the surface of the pear is soft enough for the pegs to fit perfectly into the conical peg hole, smoothly spinning and perfectly being in tune.

Strings: plain steel strings, normal tension.
Metal strings could have been already installed on the gusli of the 11th century, and are most satisfying for a modern musician. The ticknesses of the strings are between 0.022" and 0.013". The higher the tension of the strings, the louder the instrument. The weaker the tension, the more overtones in the sound of each string, the richer the sounds of the gusli. Of course, everything has its reasonable limit: too much tensed strings are often break (or deform the instrument), and too slightly tensed are not perfectly in tune. The proposed option is optimal for this gusli type.

Softcase:
Softcase included. There is a waterproof fabric outside, all the sides are interlayed with two layers of a foam and a layer of hard plastic. The best complex protection from water, falls, and hits. There is a convenient shoulder strap for carrying, soft handle for horizontal carrying and a small loop for vertical holding. There is an outside pocket for small items.

Contact the maker and order an instrument