The Ukelin is a unique, early 20th-century stringed instrument that combines elements of a Hawaiian ukulele and a violin. Despite its name, it is not a traditional ukulele with a neck; instead, it is a fretless, bowed zither played on a lap or table.
History
Invented and popularized in the United States during the 1920s, ukelins were famously sold door-to-door by traveling salesmen to individuals with little to no musical background. Because the instrument features a numbering and lettering system, it was heavily marketed as an easy, "play by number" musical novelty. However, because it was notoriously difficult to tune and maintain, many customers grew frustrated and returned them.
Design and Layout
An ukelin features a total of about 32 to 34 strings (this one has 32 strings) divided into two sections:
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The Melody Strings: Located on the upper portion, these strings provide a two-octave range and are played with a small, traditional violin bow.
- The Chord Strings: Located on the lower part, these strings are arranged in preset groups (like the auto-harp) and are strummed with the thumb, fingers, or a pick to provide accompaniment.
Sound and Resonance
The ukelin produces an ethereal, brittle, and sometimes haunting sound highly reminiscent of a tense, cinematic score. Because the instrument has so many open strings and lacks dampers, it creates a massive amount of sympathetic resonance that sustains loudly long after bowing
