Japanese musician and inventor Keizo Ishibashi has unveiled a groundbreaking musical innovation, the “Cantareel,” a modified acoustic guitar that remarkably replicates the distinct, resonant sound of a hurdy-gurdy. This ingenious device, which attaches to the front of a standard acoustic guitar, offers a fresh perspective on instrument design by “flipping the problem on its head,” according to observers.
Ishibashi recently captivated audiences with a performance of the classic folk song “The Water is Wide,” showcasing the Cantareel’s unique capabilities. The device features a spinning wheel that allows him to simultaneously strum and pick individual notes, producing a rich, sustained tone highly reminiscent of the medieval hurdy-gurdy.
Solving a Persistent Musical Challenge
The creation of a guitar-hurdy-gurdy hybrid has long posed a significant challenge for instrument makers. Previous attempts, as recently documented, often faltered due to the delicate balance required for string tension.
In a traditional hurdy gurdy, a rosined wheel rubs against the strings, similar to a violin bow, and the precise pressure applied is crucial for optimal sound. Makers struggled to maintain this tension when strings were pressed onto a fretboard, as it simultaneously tightened them against the wheel, disrupting the desired effect.
We wrote about Arty Farty Guitars having hacked a guitar into a 3D-printed hurdy-gurdy earlier this week, and now this.
Ishibashi’s breakthrough lies in his unconventional approach. While there’s no indication he was aware of previous failed attempts, he effectively solved the tension problem by thinking “outside the soundbox.”
The Cantareel’s Innovative Design
Unlike a traditional hurdy-gurdy, the Cantareel’s wheel operates externally to the guitar’s soundbox. Furthermore, the wheel itself doesn’t directly contact the strings.
Instead, it turns a pair of rosined O-rings. Each O-ring bows two of the guitar’s strings, allowing four strings to sing simultaneously.
Reversible Modification
The two outermost strings of what was originally a six-string guitar are cleverly utilized to secure the wheel assembly in place, feeding through holes on the mounting arms.
This design ensures that the guitar remains otherwise unmodified, making this a reversible modification.
A Distinctive Hurdy-Gurdy Sound with a Twist
One notable difference from a classic hurdy-gurdy is that every string functions as a drone string. Due to the nature of the rubber rings, all four bowed strings are constantly in contact and producing sound.
While this means there’s no way to individually stop the drone, the resulting smooth, continuous “gurdy sound” achieved from a guitar form factor is a remarkable feat. Early listeners agree that the distinctive sound produced more than justifies this design characteristic.
Ishibashi’s design marks a significant advancement in hybrid instrument design, offering musicians a unique avenue for sonic exploration and a fresh take on the beloved sounds of the hurdy-gurdy.
Price & Availability
MSRP – ¥35,000 and is now available from the link below.
What are your thoughts on this innovative musical invention? Could the Cantareel open new doors for musicians and instrument makers?
More Information
#cantareel #guitar #hurdygurdy #KeizoIshibashi
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4 thoughts on “Cantareel: Japanese Innovator Transforms Guitar into Hurdy Gurdy Hybrid”
Have fallen in Love with this attachment. Where can it be purchased and the price for it, Please!
Buy them direct from the maker. The link to do so is in the article. Price is in Yen.
What is the link to buy Cantareel direct from the maker?
It is under More Information in the article