Kantele
(Con-tel-lay)
Hand made in Wales by Simon Hickman
No one knows for sure how long these instruments have been around, or where they originated. It is likely that the Finnish people introduced them when migrating to the Baltic area. The original 5/6 string types date back over 2000 years, and are still widely played because of their charm and simplicity.
I hand make 2 styles of hardwood kantele, a box design (with top sound hole), and a custom open backed design, using locally sourced hardwoods, usually oak, sycamore and cherry, with reclaimed woods where appropriate. If you have particular tastes in colour finish, inlay detail or wood species contact me for your ideal custom kantele!
The box version is assembled from separate pieces and usually stained then finished with a sealer and hard wax. To reduce the price, the design omits several of the custom model features, without compromising clarity of sound. The steel strings vary in thickness and are wound by hand.
The custom design has a body cut from a solid piece of quarter sawn hardwood, and all finer details shaped by hand, including the inlay strip. The underside of the instrument is not covered with a soundboard. This allows the instrument to resonate more cleanly. Experiment by placing the kantele on a table top or wooden floor to discover extra sound effects and greater volume. The finish is usually Danish Oil, applied in layers over several weeks. This gives the instrument extra durability and also helps the high notes to 'settle'. French polish can also be applied. | 
