Category: String Instruments
Resin / Rosin / Colophony
€5.37
Dan Bau 110 cm Foldable
Price:
€328.07
Dan Bau 110 cm Foldable
The Dan Bau is a Vietnamese monochord—a single-string instrument capable of producing a wide range of pitches and expressive effects across two octaves. This 110 cm pliable version combines centuries of musical tradition with practical portability, folding for easy transport and storage without compromising its sonic character.
How It Works
The instrument consists of a single steel string mounted above a wooden soundboard. You pluck the string from below using the supplied plectrum or your fingernail, then dampen it with the ball of your thumb to shape the tone. The defining feature is the flexible rod or stick attached to the string's far end: by bending this rod with your hand, you vary the pitch continuously, creating smooth glissandi and vocal-like vibrato effects.
The pickup mounted beneath the string captures these vibrations and converts them to an electrical signal. This allows you to connect the Dan Bau directly to an amplifier or effects processor using a standard 6.3 mm jack cable, opening possibilities for experimental sound design and studio recording.
Construction and Materials
The body is crafted from dark hardwood, with a resonant wooden top decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays. The instrument ships with two plain steel strings (0.4 mm diameter), one of which serves as a replacement. Steel strings ranging from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm are compatible with this model, corresponding roughly to guitar string gauges 015 to 030. The pliable design allows the entire instrument to fold compactly without affecting sound quality or structural integrity.
What's Included
- Protective carrying case
- Plectrum
- Replacement steel string
- Passive pickup (factory installed)
Learning Resources
A free online course titled "Learning Dan Bau" is available through Hamburg Open Online University, covering fundamental techniques and musical applications. The HOOU course provides video instruction in English and can be studied at your own pace. The same instructional videos are also published separately on YouTube for additional convenience. The Dan Bau instructional video playlist offers focused lessons on playing technique and sound control.
Amplification and Effects
The integrated passive pickup enables direct connection to amplifiers, effect processors, or recording equipment. To achieve optimal signal transmission, position the string directly above the small pickup element. This setup allows exploration of electronic textures—from subtle harmonic enhancement to dramatic pitch-shifting and delay effects—expanding the instrument's expressive range well beyond acoustic play.
Portability and Storage
The pliable construction folds the instrument into a compact form that fits easily inside the supplied case, making it suitable for travel or relocation. When not in use, the Dan Bau can be hung on a wall using the opening on its back panel, serving as both functional storage and decorative display.
The Dan Bau remains central to Vietnamese traditional music, while its expressive range and electronic compatibility have made it increasingly visible in world music fusion, meditation soundscapes, and contemporary sound design.
Price:
€328.07
Dan Bau 110 cm Foldable — Vietnam's single-string monochord, now in a foldable 110 cm design that preserves centuries of tradition while adding modern convenience. This expressive instrument produces fluid glissandos and vocal-like vibrato across two octaves, controlled by bending a flexible stem with a plectrum and thumb. Handcrafted with dark hardwood and resonant top adorned with mother-of-pearl inlay, it includes a built-in passive pickup for amplification into effects units or recording gear. Folds easily for transport and storage, comes with protective case, plectrum, and spare steel string. Perfect for traditional Vietnamese music, meditative soundscapes, and experimental world music fusion.
Born from the hands of a craftsman, each item is a unique object in its own right. The photographs illustrate the product type; the piece you receive may vary slightly in shape, colour or finish.
| Origin | Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1,90 kg |
| Included | Bag, plectrum, spare string |
| Materials | Wood - Mother-of-pearl |
| Equipment | Passive Pickup |
♪ Audio Samples ♪
Qua Cau Gio Bay
Con Duyen
Caution: Not suitable for children under 3 years. Please supervise older children. Beware of swallowing small parts, strangulation, material allergies, sharp edges and points! Use only for sound generation. No liability for improper use.
Care: Extreme temperature fluctuations, humidity and direct sunlight can affect the lifespan. Please store in balanced humidity to prevent material changes, mold and corrosion. Remove dirt with a damp cloth. Dry after cleaning and each use.
Disposal: Please contact your local waste disposal authority for information on environmentally sound disposal!
Dan Bau 110 cm Foldable
The Dan Bau is a Vietnamese monochord—a single-string instrument capable of producing a wide range of pitches and expressive effects across two octaves. This 110 cm pliable version combines centuries of musical tradition with practical portability, folding for easy transport and storage without compromising its sonic character.
How It Works
The instrument consists of a single steel string mounted above a wooden soundboard. You pluck the string from below using the supplied plectrum or your fingernail, then dampen it with the ball of your thumb to shape the tone. The defining feature is the flexible rod or stick attached to the string's far end: by bending this rod with your hand, you vary the pitch continuously, creating smooth glissandi and vocal-like vibrato effects.
The pickup mounted beneath the string captures these vibrations and converts them to an electrical signal. This allows you to connect the Dan Bau directly to an amplifier or effects processor using a standard 6.3 mm jack cable, opening possibilities for experimental sound design and studio recording.
Construction and Materials
The body is crafted from dark hardwood, with a resonant wooden top decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays. The instrument ships with two plain steel strings (0.4 mm diameter), one of which serves as a replacement. Steel strings ranging from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm are compatible with this model, corresponding roughly to guitar string gauges 015 to 030. The pliable design allows the entire instrument to fold compactly without affecting sound quality or structural integrity.
What's Included
- Protective carrying case
- Plectrum
- Replacement steel string
- Passive pickup (factory installed)
Learning Resources
A free online course titled "Learning Dan Bau" is available through Hamburg Open Online University, covering fundamental techniques and musical applications. The HOOU course provides video instruction in English and can be studied at your own pace. The same instructional videos are also published separately on YouTube for additional convenience. The Dan Bau instructional video playlist offers focused lessons on playing technique and sound control.
Amplification and Effects
The integrated passive pickup enables direct connection to amplifiers, effect processors, or recording equipment. To achieve optimal signal transmission, position the string directly above the small pickup element. This setup allows exploration of electronic textures—from subtle harmonic enhancement to dramatic pitch-shifting and delay effects—expanding the instrument's expressive range well beyond acoustic play.
Portability and Storage
The pliable construction folds the instrument into a compact form that fits easily inside the supplied case, making it suitable for travel or relocation. When not in use, the Dan Bau can be hung on a wall using the opening on its back panel, serving as both functional storage and decorative display.
The Dan Bau remains central to Vietnamese traditional music, while its expressive range and electronic compatibility have made it increasingly visible in world music fusion, meditation soundscapes, and contemporary sound design.
Comments (0)
No customer reviews for the moment.
