Balalaika (necked bowl lute)

Instrument

Instrument Family

Strings

Place Made

Description

Technical description: The balalaika is a Russian stringed musical instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden, hollow body, fretted neck and three strings. The body is constructed out of a thin orange wood. The soundhole has a diameter of 23.9mm. The bridge is 75.5mm. The body is constructed in a distinctive triangular shape that tapers up to form the neck. The width of the neck at its base is 38.7mm. Its back is ridged. The fretboard is 264mm. It has three strings made of nylon. On the headstock there are three black wooden tuners that are embellished with a diamond-shape pattern.

Measurements

Soundhole diameter: 23.9mm. Fretboard: 264mm. Bridge: 75.5mm. Neck width at base: 38.7mm. Frets: - I: 23.7mm - II: 21.3mm - III: 20mm - IV: 19.1mm - V: 17.8mm - VI: 16.7mm - VII: 15.5mm - VIII: 14.8mm - IX: 13.8mm - X: 12.9mm - XI: 12.2mm - XII: 11.3mm - XIII: 10.6mm - XIV: 9.8mm - XV: 9.4mm - XVI: 8.8mm

Provenance

Acquired new by donor in Wareside, Hertfordshire, 1965

Collection

Peter Morris Collection (2019.4); MIMEd

Accession Number

6469