HerbyJFlash Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 Can anyone tell me what the instrument in this photo is ? My girlfriend has bought me it as a gift. She thinks it’s a Phin. However , the four strings say otherwise . The spacing of the threats also look pretty much like a guitar. I want to get my head around it before I’m put on the spot and asked to play it . From the video I’ve been sent , it’s sounds like a phin or seung. Thanks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirocco Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Hello, it seems "isarn pin63" that I found on Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerbyJFlash Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 @sirocco Looks pretty close but the frets are not the same space apart. On the phin on amazon the 6th and 10th frets are bigger. On my one the fret sizes just decreases gradually like on a a guitar. Thanks for taking the time to look though ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfiddler Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 You might need to check and possibly upgrade on the strings. I have seen many traditional Asian instruments where the strings were actually unraveled brake cables ! Very ingenious. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcab Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 A colleague looked at the photo and said: 1. It is not a traditional Thai instrument 2. The frets are in a Western chromatic scale 3. His assumption is that the instrument is a Chinese made hybrid instrument 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfill Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Looks like a lute to me, although it could be a large Ukulele. Tune it like a Uke (G-C-E-A) and you're away... Don't be tempted to use steel strings. Nylon only or it might collapse in half.. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirocco Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 couldn't you show this whole string instrument? Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerbyJFlash Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 I will try and get better photos , my gf ordered it recently , bless her . Think should arrive in next few days . Don’t have the heart to tell her it’s not a phin , still looks like could be a lot fun... Does anyone know the tuning of a seung? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtrnuno41 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 I found two pics of a phin, where you can see it is different then "normal" phin. There must be 2 kinds of phins. And one is with guitar like setting. https://oman.desertcart.com/products/30873674-isarn-electric-phin-3-strings-3-track-thai-lao-guitar-musical-instrument-traditional-thai-musical-pin-16 However you see all other phins with another setting of the neck and with left out frets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfill Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 26 minutes ago, xtrnuno41 said: I found two pics of a phin, where you can see it is different then "normal" phin. There must be 2 kinds of phins. And one is with guitar like setting. https://oman.desertcart.com/products/30873674-isarn-electric-phin-3-strings-3-track-thai-lao-guitar-musical-instrument-traditional-thai-musical-pin-16 However you see all other phins with another setting of the neck and with left out frets. In the description it states "A type of northeastern lute". Mind you, it also says the instrument has three strings - do my eyes deceive me? The electric pick ups do not follow traditional Thai instrumentation either. Call them what they like, these are basically large electric ukuleles/4 string guitars. The fretting follows Western chromatic scales. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirocco Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 sueng 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurtf Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 My guess would be a Lute 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtrnuno41 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 4 minutes ago, mrfill said: In the description it states "A type of northeastern lute". Mind you, it also says the instrument has three strings - do my eyes deceive me? The electric pick ups do not follow traditional Thai instrumentation either. Call them what they like, these are basically large electric ukuleles/4 string guitars. The fretting follows Western chromatic scales. I see in the link it says 3 string, however in the description and as wel as you can see on the pic: Isarn Electric Phin 4 Strings 3 Track, Thai Lao Guitar Musical Instrument, Traditional Thai Musical Pin 16 and it is called a phin. I can t make anything else of it. I took the foto and enlarged it and i can see 4 strings, just checked. Although you can see 4 tuning mechanismes normally. So what would it say then? If you dont have the special fret setting, it is a lute/mandoline/ukelele ? If you do have the special fret setting, it is a phin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stouricks Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 1 hour ago, mrfill said: Looks like a lute to me, although it could be a large Ukulele. Tune it like a Uke (G-C-E-A) and you're away... Don't be tempted to use steel strings. Nylon only or it might collapse in half.. Then it's 'When I'm Cleaning Windows' PML 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post VBF Posted June 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted June 12, 2020 23 minutes ago, stouricks said: Then it's 'When I'm Cleaning Windows' PML Allow me...... love this guy's songs..sort of musical seaside postcards Sorry if 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stouricks Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, VBF said: Allow me...... love this guy's songs..sort of musical seaside postcards Sorry if Just hope they don't decide to pull his statue down wherever it is. And Eric Morecambe, did he EVER tell a joke about a coloured person. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaLa Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Firstly, try plugging it into the mains and playing ‘Smoke on the Water’ to check if it’s a guitar. Although I would run with Kurtf’s and mrfill’s opinion and say a lute. Also blackcab is correct on the western fret positioning. To check if it’s of Eastern origin sees if it sounds a semi-tone flat when you play it; you know, like a Thai girl singing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unblocktheplanet Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 3 hours ago, xtrnuno41 said: . These are both electric phins. There are at least a couple of street performers who can make these puppies roll! I'd love to book one of them for a party (if we ever have parties again, Prayuth!) if anyone knows how to reach them. Like early electric rock set to lukthung, lukkrueng, molam, plaeng pua chiwit. Absolutely awesome! My very favourite thai instrument. Most are acoustic. They can belt out some great songs, too. Note the headpieces. They were ivory at the start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerbyJFlash Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 @unblocktheplanet Those two look pretty much the same but obviously electric , thanks ! Would anyone know the tuning for a four string phin / hybrid / eastern style / seung / lute guitar like this ???? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgMech Cowboy Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Looks like one of the instruments played by Robin Hood's merry men. ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talahtnut Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Looks more like a Mukinese Battle Pluckfiddle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopDeadSenter Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 12 hours ago, talahtnut said: Mukinese Battle Pluckfiddle. try saying that fast 3 times! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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