Is this simply a type of hummel, or something else??

Leo Kretzner
09/30/24 03:18:24PM
@leo-kretzner

This instrument was bought at an antique store and they knew nothing about it. I will add the pictures in the next post, as that seems to be the only option.

It has four strings over the standard diatonic fret board (14 frets total), and ten open strings. It's the open strings that make me question if this is a hummel, because they are arranged with three intermittent bass strings, such that they seem to be three different chords, rather than just a small set of drone strings. I'm hoping Ulrich or someone else can clarify if this should be called a hummel or not.

I found an instrument like it a short while back on the web at the Thomann European instrument site but can no longer find it there. It was called a "ravelle," and I have another reference referring to something shaped like this as a 'rafella.' But I get no appropriate looking hits when I Google these terms.