Balaphone

Balaphone – The balaphone is constructed from 17 to 21 rectangular wooden slats, arranged in an array from low to high notes. The slats are generally made from bene wood, and are carefully dried over a low flame to achieve their sonorous resonance. The ends of each slat are burned black with an iron to seal them. The instrument builder tunes each slat by shaving its underbelly and attaches two rows of gourds to provide natural amplifiers for the balaphone.

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