Introduction
The Premium Monolina Monochord in Ebony & Ivory finish, in A tuning, brings a richly overtone-laden, distinctly minor character that many practitioners love for deep, introspective work. The dark wenge frame and the soft, light maple soundboard echo Paul McCartney's “Ebony and Ivory” – black and white in harmony; for the workshop, the two colours also symbolise masculine and feminine, yin and yang. Instead of protected ivory and rare ebony, the workshop uses sustainably sourced wenge and maple.
The A tuning gives the instrument a fine, slightly melancholic character – ideal for deep meditative work.
Specifications
- Tuning: A base note (24 overtone strings in a, 5 bass strings in A, 5 fifth strings in e)
- Strings: 34 in total – 24 overtone, 5 bass, 5 fifth strings
- Materials: wenge frame, stands and bridges; maple handles, soundboard and back
- Finish: natural hard wax oil
- Origin: Germany, handcrafted
Sound and character
The A-tuned Monolina is particularly rich in overtones and clearly minor in character. The floating overtones evoke a deep, inward quality that often touches an emotional resonance. The denser wenge wood reinforces the vibration of the body, so the sound sustains longer and is more strongly felt. The bass and fifth strings provide a steady carrier layer beneath the overtone cloud.
How to use
The A-tuned Premium Monolina is ideal for deep meditation, sound baths, sound massage and personal stillness. It is light and compact – use it in your lap or on the included small round stands close to the client's body. Many sound bath facilitators and sound massage practitioners deliberately choose the minor tunings for slow, deep sound baths.
Why this product
- Unique premium wood pairing (wenge + maple), with striking visual character
- A tuning: rich in overtones, minor character, drawing inward
- Complete accessory kit: 5 bridges, pentatonic major/minor templates, tuner, tuning key, spare strings, monochord scarf
- Hand-built in Germany with natural finishes
Care tips
The Monolina unfolds best in a quiet, calm space. Check the tuning regularly with the included tuner – tuning the strings is itself a meditative practice. Alternate the two santoor mallets and two felt mallets to draw out different characters; plucking with the fingers gives a closer, more intimate voice.
About Feeltone
Feeltone is a craft instrument workshop in Lassan, northern Germany, founded by Ingo Böhme. For more than two decades they have built monochords, sound beds, sound chairs and ceremonial drums for sound bath facilitators, sound massage practitioners, sound artists and meditation practitioners. Every instrument is hand-built from certified sustainably sourced wood and finished with natural treatments (hard wax oil).