Wierd guitar

[idaho1]

What can someone tell me about this . Its old for sure

[mart]

Can we get better and closer pics ??  http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tentencanada.com/images/5instruments/1musical-instruments/musical01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tentencanada.com/instruments_musical.html&usg=__rWlQy5pyQpBmT4OwMqugfdlPr0s=&h=300&w=300&sz=21&hl=en&start=14&zoom=1&tbnid=CNpOAcE9tagzTM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&ei=7zf2T-DaHaW26wG59ZnBBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dguitar%2Blike%2Binstrument%2Bwith%2Bthree%2Bstrings%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D660%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Dimvns&itbs=1   Couldn`t see all the pics on this one but is it like this ??

[mart]

Look up "samisen" !!

[idaho1]

It looks alot like samisen or is it shamisen ? i see it spelt both ways . I did a bunch of looking around about these and it seems the samisen has no frets and a squared pillow shapped body . Mine has frets . I suppose it could be a '' novelty '' samisen of some kind . The huge tuning knobs are funny . Its unique and interesting . I got some nylon folk guitar strings to put on it .

Thanks for the help !

[rockandrollrods]

It looks more like a qinqin. A folk instrument used primarily in Southern China. Two strings would make it a Vietnamese Dan Sen.

Nice find.

[mart]

Did it have strings when you got it ?? Some Appalachian folk instruments used double strings !! The oriental instruments did use silk strings !!  Not sure about if they still do !!

[idaho1]

By looking at the links provided it looks like we have a real ''qinqin'' here . You people are great !! ... It had no strings on it when i got it at a yard sale where i paid 1$ for it . I cant play an instrument but have a liking for them anyway . The strange ones are more intersting . 

[mart]

Wow !!  Can`t believe you got it for that !! Don`t feel too bad,, at one time I had a Strad copy violin, banjo, piano, couple of harmonicas and a juice harp,,,only thing I could play was a radio !!

[rockandrollrods]

Nice score! The last time I saw any stringed instrument at a yard sale was a 100 year old banjo in pieces, and missing half the parts. The stoner wanted $800 for it.