Streichmelodion

Description

Streichmelodion, a bowed zither with four metal strings, laid on a table for playing. Outline with sloping shoulders. Front two-piece, of fine to medium grain; thin elongated f-shaped soundholes; single purfling front and back; the front varnish golden, the back reddish. Back of one piece of maple of moderate curl; three turned bone acorn-shaped feet, one each side of upper bouts and one at back of pegbox. Plain maple neck. Asymmetrical pegbox with ebonised front face, the back carved as a stylised leaf. Zither tuning pins. The orientation of strings is the reverse of that on a violin, the treble strings lying nearest to the player. Metal frets, thirty in all, stapled to ebony fingerboard. Nut of fret wire, with vertical metal guide-pins behind instead of grooves in nut.