Bass balalaika

Body and base composed of seven ribs of birch. The belly is made from a single piece of pine, edged with ebony and inlaid with a light wood stringing. Neck and head of birch. The fingerboard is of ebony, with 14 metal frets and five inlaid mother-of-pearl fret markers. The bridge is of beech. Four strings, three of overspun copper, one modern overspun replacement, tuned by steel wrest pins and bone pegs. The circular sound-hole is decorated around the outer edge with veneer of beech and ebony and lighter wood stringing. Applied ebony 'plate' below the sound-hole. Applied steel plate on back of head, engraved with stylised, scrolling decoration. Adjustable steel spike in right hand corner of body. In own canvas case.