Hello!

[Janet Brooks]

Hello! Bowed Psaltery Folks! I'm the fortunate owner of an incredible Black Bog Oak Bowed Psaltery recently built for me by Rick Long. The wood has been Carbon Dated to be nearly 2,000 years old and turned out beautifully with Rick's fine craftsmanship- FAR more than I'd ever imagined it would. I'm with Brooks Hill Music and we build Plucked Psalteries, Hammered Dulcimers, AutoHarps and do wood turning items- but, having seen his workmanship, we only trusted Rick to build my Bowed Psaltery and it's awesome Bows. I'm soooo glad I did! 

He took some wonderful pictures of it, too, that I've put in an Album to share here with anyone who would like to see it and share in our Joy with it. Owning something so special, that looks like it REALLY belongs in a Museum!- meant I need to be serious about learning to play it and not leave it to do nothing but be a dust collector- what a sad fate that would be for this beautiful Instrument of such ancient wood! I'll need any help I can get, so I'm here to learn from y'all. Check the photos and you'll see why we are so excited... :)

I'll have it at our booth for the upcoming Southern Strings Dulcimer Festival in Hattiesburg, Mississippi if anyone would like to see it- and maybe play it for me so I can hear it!  As a rank beginner, it can't sing too good for me yet, and I'd appreciate any advice I can collect on learning to play it! 

[Janet Brooks]

Lol! Thanks!:)
If you came by here, you'd be welcome to try it. :)

[Dave Holeton]

Janet

Your black bog oak bowed psaltery is a treasure.  Like any other instrument, it just needs to be played to learn how to play it.  I would be glad to play it for you if it ever needs to be saved from being a dust collector.

Take Care

Dave