Gnawa Guimbri / Santir / Sentir

This is an all 100% handmade instrument!
A three-stringed long-necked lute, also called guinbri or santir or sentir, is the main melodic instrument of the Gnawa. This plucked lute (guinbri or santir or sentir) is little close to the stringed instrument found in West Africa and is known as khalam in Senegal or ngoni in Mali. It is also said to be the ancestor of the American banjo. This guinbri or santir or sentir is made from a wooden trunk covered with camel or cow skin stretched to form a soundboard. The metal part with rings, also called sarsal or sarsar, is mounted at end of the neck by entering tight the pointy end into the preexisting whole at the top end of the neck.. The neck is basically a wooden pole, and the three strings are sheep or goat gut which are very traditional. The strings are tuned in fourths and held with leather bands that serve as tuning pegs. With the guinbri or santir, or sentir Gnawa (descendents of former enslaved people from the sub-Saharan region) play music with intricate textures and astonishing rhythmic patterns with great pleasure!

This instrument is decorated with motifs of the hand also called khamsa which is a symbol of good luck and protection against envy and bad fortune. The motifs are hand applied with natural henna, a vegetable dye that is used for body/skin adornment.
Details:
Overall length: 46 inches - excluding the metal part at the end.
Neck: 23 1/2 inches long - excluding the metal part at the end.
Trunk: 22 1/2"L x 7"W x 5"Deep
Materials: Natural wood, hide and metal

For the appreciation, we included with this guimbri:
1 Free sarsar or sarsal, the metal part with rings at the end of the neck.
1 Free complementary case
1 Free extra set of cords to have for the future
1 Free Gnawa instrumental audio CD with music played using a Gnawa guimbri or sentir! which will give you an idea of how it is played.
One of a kind! Act now!

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Price: $499.00