Snakewood Binding

Figured Ash w/ Bloodwood stripe

Due to the positive response that came with the original “Safari” psaltery that I made about a month ago, I decided to make a replica.

In case you’re wondering, the original psaltery was #PS-60, about which I raved: “easily in the all-time top five, maybe even the top three. This psaltery has excellent volume and sustain, a deep and full tone.”

Since I had plenty of supplies left over from the original, I was able to cut the soundboard, sides, and back from the very same boards as the original, making for a nearly identical sound.

The only modifications that I made were to the binding and bridge: I swapped out the original Bloodwood for Snakewood—which, if you were to calculate its cost out to board-feet, would be the most expensive wood in the world: about 100 times more expensive than oak!

Otherwise, the psaltery is as close to identical as can be. (Okay, I also added a Bloodwood backstrip, and Black Star Diopside note markers, but that really shouldn’t impact the sound in any way.) You can go take a look on the sale page.