Invention IX

This has been an odd and mostly successful experiment in using a hollow neck as a resonance chamber to create a drone that can be played over. This double-necked stringed instrument features two bamboo tubes as the necks, with hardwood fingerboards attached to the bamboo. The longer neck houses a metal reed tuned to a D activated through a breathing tube, and the shorter neck uses a recorder-like mouthpiece to create its tone, an A. These two tones provide a drone to accompany the open-tuned strings. 

The instrument is not as banjo-like as it appears, as it is primarily built to be played with a bow and has a gentle, resonant sound, similar to a sarangi or esraj. The longer neck is fretless and has six strings in three double courses tuned in unison, D'AD. The shorter neck is fretted and has four single-course strings and uses various open tunings. The longer neck tunes at the peg-head and the shorter neck as its tuning machines below the bridge. The body is built of metal and wood. 

It can also be plucked and has a haunting deep resonance. For me it has served as a wonderful meditation instrument.