Ringing Strings Bowed Psalteries
handcrafted by Rick Long
Clinton, Tennessee
(865) 660-4026 psalteryman@gmail.com
This is a two and one half octave tenor bowed psaltery.
The range of notes start at "G" below middle "C" or G3 and go up to "C" two octave above middle "C" or C6
The 30 strings are all phosphor bronze wound acoustic guitar strings. This psaltery packs a lot of punch in volume and great tone for its size.
It is 21 1/2" long, 7" wide, and 1 1/2" thick.
I've been working on this design for a couple of years now and have built several in this size continuing to tweak and develop the tenor into a psaltery I can be proud to offer.
The tripod attachment is an option you can add that will give you a way to hold the psaltery to play using two bows, one in each hand. It opens up a whole new chapter in the playing of a bowed psaltery.
Here's a tune I played just utilizing the two bow method. One bow in each hand.
You can add this option for $50 and that includes a second bow, a pretty good deal as my tenor bows sell for $25 each. This price is only if you are buying one of my tenor psalteries.
The camera tripod is not included.
The price is $75 for just the tripod attachment if you didn't purchase your psaltery from me.
The camera tripod shown in these photographs is not a very good one to use. I have tried several and have settled on a few very good ones to use when mounting your psaltery to play. I don't sell these tripods, but usually can point you to a place to buy them at a good price. The main difference in the ones that I recommend, is that they have an all metal head. This really makes all the difference for holding the psaltery securely with no movement or shaking. I have been using one of these for a couple of years now and I really like mine.
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1-27-12 I removed the two tenor psalteries that were sold and listed a new quilted maple/cherry model. The pictures are up and ready to view. I also have the sound clips recorded and in place now.
1-6-12 I have added three new tenor psalteries to the site. Pictures are ready to view now, sound clips are in place for you to compare.
The tenor psalteries now include both volumes of my "Play by Number" songbooks. That's forty-five songs total. These are geared toward beginners and folks that don't read music. They were created for my soprano psalteries, but will also work with the tenor.
I'll mark the psaltery as "SalePending" when you confirm to me the particular item number of the psaltery you want. When your payment has been received, I will mark it as"SOLD".
$50 will add the option of a tripod attachment and a second bow. Info on the new adjustable tripod attachment I have developed at the bottom of this page. This $50 price is only when you buy your psaltery from me. One of the perks of being a customer of mine.
Here's a few tunes recorded at a jam session at Cumberland Crafts on 7-27-2008. I was playing my quilted maple and walnut tenor bowed psaltery during the jam. Terry Lewis is playing the appalachian Dulcimer.
This picture shows what is included with the tenor psaltery.
Update - Now includes two songbooks. Total of forty-five songs.
Top - Curly Redwood
Back - Cherry
Item number - TECRCH14
Price - $575
$50 more for the tripod holder attachment a a second matching bow.
This psaltery has a curly redwood soundboard. The redwood I use is from a source that salvages the old stumps and parts of the redwood trees that were discarded by the loggers years ago. They were after only the vertical grain wood for lumber. This wood was considered a trashwood and left in place. How lucky for us! The back and bridge are made of black cherry from here in Tennessee.
Click pictures to enlarge
Scroll on down the page to see the tenor psalteries that I have available. There are pictures, descriptions of the wood, and sound clips of each one being played.
The listings of the tenor bowed psalteries that are available for sale are on down the page.
Scroll down to see pictures of the front, back, and side. There are also sound clips of them being played, so you can hear exactly what they sound like.
Copyright Ringing Strings Music 2004-2012 All Rights Reserved
Scroll on down for info on the tripod holder attachment I build to allow for playing the tenor psaltery using two bows, or double bowing.
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Top - Light Quilted Maple
Back - Cherry
Item number - TEQMCH16
Price - $650
$50 more for the tripod holder attachment and a second matching bow.
The light quilted maple sound board on this psaltery is really beautiful. The figure is very extreme and right up there with the most beautiful I have seen. This light color and extreme figuring is sought after by the folks that build guitars. Sometimes I am lucky enough to obtain a piece of it. This board was purchased on a trip to Oregon in 1996. I got to hand pick the special boards I wanted, and have been using out of that for many years. If I run out, I guess it will be time for another trip. The back and bridge on this psaltery is made out of black cherry, from right here in East Tennessee.
Click pictures to enlarge
To Order -
Email me at -
psalteryman@gmail.com
or Call -
865-660-4026
To Order -
Email me at -
psalteryman@gmail.com
or Call -
865-660-4026
To Order -
Email me at -
psalteryman@gmail.com
or Call -
865-660-4026
