What instrument is this?

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
Post Reply
User avatar
DeathJag
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2297
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:44 am

What instrument is this?

Post by DeathJag » Sun Aug 01, 2021 8:51 am

A friend grabbed it at a garage sale and doesn't know what it is, and neither do I!

Image

Image

User avatar
countertext
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4142
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:25 pm
Location: Tacoma

Re: What instrument is this?

Post by countertext » Sun Aug 01, 2021 8:58 am

The most common name is sintir, some call it a gimbri. It’s a Gnawa instrument from north Africa. If you haven’t listened to any Gnawa stuff, now’s the time to start.

Edit: this kind of sintir is called a lotar.
Last edited by countertext on Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
jthomas
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1209
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:44 pm
Location: Downeast Maine

Re: What instrument is this?

Post by jthomas » Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:07 am

Don't really know... but it looks like a biwa to me. Or maybe a shamisen given the longish neck. The tuners look Japanese to me

https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0001807/

User avatar
bessieboporbach
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 283
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:40 am

Re: What instrument is this?

Post by bessieboporbach » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:16 am

The poster above is correct, this is the very characteristic shape of a lotar (i.e., a type of guimbri). They are made and played all over Africa, even in the north, and they are commonly imported and sold as decor.

User avatar
DeathJag
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2297
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:44 am

Re: What instrument is this?

Post by DeathJag » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:36 am

countertext wrote:
Sun Aug 01, 2021 8:58 am
jthomas wrote:
Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:07 am
bessieboporbach wrote:
Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:16 am
Thanks a lot for the info!!

Dan

User avatar
SignoftheDragon
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2314
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:06 am
Location: Utah, USA
Contact:

Re: What instrument is this?

Post by SignoftheDragon » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:41 am

I know it's your friend's and all, but is it playable? Looks like it would be cool to noodle around on.

I don't know my lotars from my guimbris from my biwas, but it looks rad as hell.

User avatar
DeathJag
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2297
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:44 am

Re: What instrument is this?

Post by DeathJag » Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:10 am

I agree, I could see jamming some surf on it haha!

Post Reply