A new instrument...a cross between a ukelele and a dulcimer, called the Merlin.

[kallisti]

A new interesting cross between a ukulele and a dulcimer made by Canadian guitar maker Godin. It's made by their subsidiary Seagull, and it's called the Merlin. Now I don't know if it's named after the fish, or the magician. but I am guessing the latter. Here is an intro to it, and then an example of someone actually playing it

Comments

[kishiriadgr]

It might be the same concept as my Strumstick (http://www.strumstick.com). I know I ran a photo of it in an earlier journal entry, but I don't know when.

[kallisti]

It's similar, but the Merlin has the doubled high string that gives dulcimers a lot of it nice sound. And it's shorter, so it's easier to carry around. Some vac-head on facebook tried to tell me that the Strumstick must be a better instrument because it has more frets...he just couldn't understand that the feature simply makes it different, not better or worse.

I wouldn't throw either of them out if someone gave me one. Both have nice features that make them different and interesting.