We had assumed that when Dion Dublin invented the Dube, that that was it for new instruments. Everything possible had been done. We were wrong.
The Yaybahar is an entirely acoustic instrument, designed by Gorkem Sen. It features strings, coiled springs and frame drums and the mechanism sees vibrations from the strings transmitted via the springs to the drums. The membranes then echo back and forth on the springs.
To be honest, we don't really understand the above, but we do understand that the resulting sound is truly incredible. It's capable of a range of sounds: short and long; percussive and tuned; monophonic and polyphonic; and can be played using a bow, malleting the drums, or by plucking the strings. Make sure you watch at least the first three minutes of the video below to see exactly what it can do.
There's no news on when, or if, this will be commercially available, but stay tuned (aha) to the instrument's Twitter page for updates.
If Sigur Rós don't use a few of these on their next album then we'll be staggered.
