Paragon Heartwood Mali Pro Kora - 20 String - Machine Tuned

The Paragon Heartwood Mali Pro Kora - 20 String - Machine Tuned (CORE-uh) is among the best available anywhere in the US, with superior craftsmanship and materials. The kora is a Mande stringed instrument, like a combination between the lute and the harp, with a classical guitar-like sound quality, played throughout western Africa. Main components are large half-gourd, notched floating bridge, full-length neck, decorated hand posts, and machine head tuning. It is played by holding the instrument facing you, holding hand posts with both hands, and plucking the strings with thumbs and fingers. This machine-tuned kora is covered by our satisfaction guarantee, and features:

• Built to professional musician standards by expert artisans in Mali using traditional methods
• Thick calabash half-gourd body, 20-22in wide, 10-11in deep, with large bass hole
• Goatskin covering, attached with decorative tacks and additional tack designs
• 6 inch notched floating hardwood bridge with carved decoration
• 23 fish-line strings of variable thicknesses attached with metal base ring and guitar-like tuning keys
• Carved solid hardwood neck extending 30-32in out from gourd
• Being a stringed instrument, this kora will require tuning after shipping
• Hand crafted in Africa by village cultural artisans supported by the non-profit Africa Heartwood Project.