This instrument is actually three instruments in one - a Monochord on one side,
Koto and Tamboura on the other. It was made during a weekend instrument building
seminar that I attended in Austria a couple of years back.

The Monochord consists of 28 strings, all tuned to the same tone. The sound can
best be described as "meditative".

The Tamboura, originally from India, only has four strings and seems to be mainly
used for accompaniment. The sound is more similar to a heavily distorted electric
guitar than a typical "steel string on wooden body" type instrument. This is due to
some cotton or wool strings letting the strings vibrate against the wood [picture].

The Koto, a Chinese instrument, has its thirteen strings tuned to a pentatonic scale.
It can be plucked or strummed, or you can use sticks (or even pens) to hammer on
the strings.

(Click on the pictures for larger version; approx. 55 KB each.)

On a different occasion I completed this Djembe drum. That is, I got the wooden body
and had to prepare and put together the other parts, including shaving the skin.

(Click on the picture for larger version; approx. 75 KB.)