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Balalaika

Nineteenth-century balalaika. Matched two-piece front, gently curved in both directions, of fine to medium grain with herringbone edging. Inlaid nplectrum-guard at top of front, and in the centre an inlay, pierced with four small holes, in the shape of the gableend of a house with finial and eaves. Combined metal tailpiece and saddle, plated, screwed to tail. Five-rib curved back; ribs two and four are curved and also have a lengthways twist. Thin black lines between ribs. Neck tilted back from plane of front; neck and peghead ebonised. Neck/peghead joint a simple scarf-joint. Three machine-tuners with bone heads, at present strung with gut for the two e1 strings, and steel for a1. Sixteen frets on neck with mother-of-pearl fret markers at fifth, seventh and twelfth frets.

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  • Repository:Royal College of Music Museum
  • Measurements:Length: 557mm. Width: 290mm.