For an alternate payment method, click here for a traditional order form.
All pricing and shipping charges are for U.S. deliveries only. For foreign shipping, call for details and pricing.
A Thumbnail History of the Psaltery
Psalteries are found, in one form or another, in every major folk culture in the world dating back 1000's of years. They came in all shapes and sizes, some were plucked, some were struck and some were bowed. The most sacred musical instrument of the ancient Hebrews was a plucked psaltery with 10 strings which dates back to Biblical times. The hammered dulcimer is actually a struck psaltery that originated in the middle east over 3000 years ago. The bowed psaltery probably dates back around 300 years ago in Ireland but it was a great deal different from the ones we have today. It's shape was a right triangle with the longest string on the left and the strings got shorter as they moved down toward the right. This allowed the bow to get between the pins and reach every string. It was held in the left hand and the bow was in the right hand. The modern psaltery is very, very different from it's ancient relatives. The comtemporary bowed psaltery is an isosceles triangle with hitch pins on both sides and tuned to the chromatic scale (the same as a piano, with both natural notes and sharps and flats). The contemporary bowed psaltery was probably developed in the late 1940's in Germany. It was brought to the United States in the late 1950's as a simple, easy to play, cheap to buy novelty instrument. It spread across much of the U.S. in the next 30 years or so but most builders built their instruments almost exactly like everyone else before them. Everyone who builds musical instruments has a "vision" for their instruments and they build an instrument that matches that "vision". In 1996 Omega Strings founder, Richard Spencer, developed a new "vision" for the bowed psaltery, one that moved it far beyond the simple, easy to play, cheap to buy novelty instrument. His "vision" of the bowed psaltery was a finely crafted, well finished, "concert quality" instrument with a warm, rich tone throughtout the range with a haunting sound that stirs the soul. The instruments on this page reflect that "vision".
General Features Found On All Omega Strings Bowed Psalteries
The second most important inovation is the Natural Amplification System. This system boost the natural volume of the instrument by 30 percent and adds more depth and resonance to the tone. This system is exclusive to Omega Strings Psalteries and must be heard to be fully appreciated.
This photo shows how the tuning pins are inserted into the instruments at an angle to prevent the string from climbing the pin. The bridge top is solid brass, this produces sympathetic vibrations that add to the haunting quality of the tone.
This photo shows both the removable plastic note strip which clearly labels each string and the solid wood position markers on the C's and F's. Walnut is used for the F's and Paduk is used for the C's.
This photo shows the solid brass tripod mounting insert in the bottom of the instrument. This allows quick and easy mounting to any standard camera tripod. By mounting your instrument to a tripod you have both hands free to play with more than one bow. That's right, more than one, some people play with as many as 4.
This photo shows the concavity across the strings. This feature makes it imposible to accidently hit 2 adjacent strings with the bow because the ones on the inside are lower and can't be reached by the bow.
Add to this:
1. A bottom sound hole to give you a place to put a microphone when you want to amplify it.
2. A solid rock maple pin block.
3. Up to 6 different string gauges.
4. A hand rubbed finish.
and you have an instrument that is truely in a class by itself.
Models Available and Ordering Information
All instruments have instrument grade Spruce soundboards. Currently the standard woods for the sides and back are Walnut or Cherry.You may indicate your preference by using the menu bar by the "add to cart" button. If you don't see all the wood types in the menu bar, then that wood is out of stock at this time. If you have a custom instrument or exotic woods in mind, Call for details and pricing.
Model: BP32
Number of Strings: 32
Range:2 1/2 chromatic octaves (G6 to C4)
Overall Dimensions: 28 in. X 9 in. X 2 3/4 in.
Instrument includes: One Bow, Tuning Wrench and Rosin
Price: $ 499.95
Sorry, this model is currently out of stock and I will not be able to deliver any for Christmas.
Number of Strings: 37
Range:3 full chromatic octaves (G6 to G3)
Overall Dimensions: 37 in. X 10 in. X 3 1/4 in.
Instrument includes: One Bow, Tuning Wrench and Rosin
Price: $ 699.95