THE

KANTELE

 

 

This is a 38 string electro-acoustic Finnish “kantele”. This instrument

measures four feet on the side nearest the camera in the above photo.

 

The instrument is of the psaltery family and is basically a horizontal harp.

 

 

This kantele has a remarkably penetrating and clear sound because it is strung with

piano wire and has a total of over 7000 pounds of tension in its strings.

 

The damper cover is lifted revealing the electromagnetic pickup array. It consists of

two 8 inch Lollar humbuckers (in series) with a separate 6 string humbucker on the

lowest bass strings.