ROCKING STAINLESS

This instrument starts with a stick guitar – a board with frets and strings – played table-top style (that is, lying on a table in front of the player). To this is added a soundboard in the form of a rigid stainless steel sheet bent into a curve and resting, convex side down, directly on the strings. The point of contact between the sheet and the strings defines the end point of the active string length, and as the sheet rocks slightly during playing it imparts a vibrato and some jawari effect to the tone. An elastic strap holds the sheet in placed while still allowing it to rock.